Interludes: Reminder to Look Up!

Have you noticed that it's summer right now?

I'm serious. Have you stopped to consider the fact that the sun is out, the temperature's warmer, the trees are green, the pools are open?

This is the first extended period of time that I've spent at home in about three years. It's the first summer since I was 16 that I haven't held a job or some commitment equally demanding of my time. And I'm beginning to notice the fact that it's summer and I actually have the time to enjoy it for the first time in what feels like forever.

One of my friends, Madi, is an avid hiker and backpacker, and she told me once about how she and her friends will periodically remind each other to "look up!" while out on a hike. As she explains it, hiking is a great way to encounter the beauty of nature, but sometimes you can miss the full experience by focusing too much on the path in front of you, forgetting to take in your surroundings. Thus, she and her friends remind each other to "look up!" and take it all in.

The metaphor practically writes itself—sometimes, we need to be reminded to expand our vision beyond the goal to delight in the places we get to see on the way. Of course it's important to keep our eyes ahead and pay attention to where we're going, just as a hiker needs to watch the path for roots and rocks that might cause them to stumble. But there's nothing to lose and much to gain by looking up every now and then.

In my current situation, one of the things I'm "looking up" to see is the fact that it's summer, and I have time to do summer activities (which is so exciting!). I'm also appreciating the time to read for pleasure instead of for homework and the opportunity to be with my family more than I have since high school. And while I'm well aware that my period of joblessness probably affords me more time and freedom than most people, I can't help but think that that practice of looking up can be applied in most (if not all) seasons of life.

The account of creation in Genesis 1 reveals a God who delights in His creation, and moreover has allowed us to delight in it as well. I believe this ability to delight in God and in our surroundings is both a privilege and a call. Though I'm by no means an expert, here are a few suggestions on how to get better at looking up and delighting in where God has you.

• Go outside, even if just for five minutes, and appreciate it. Listen to the birds, breathe the fresh air, and give thanks for being a live to experience it all.

• Practice conscious gratitude for the moments that brighten your day. The person who smiled at you on your commute, listening to your favorite song in the morning, having a delicious dinner, etc. These moments of sunshine are all around us, but how often do we consciously acknowledge and appreciate them?

• Talk to others about the things that are brightening your outlook. When you're aware of the things that are bringing you joy, don't keep it to yourself but be vocal about your thankfulness. You never know if your joy might encourage someone else.

• Resist the urge to complain first. Negative experiences and low seasons do happen, and you shouldn't try to hide or repress the negative emotions in exchnage for false positivity. But at the same time, be on guard for when expressing emotions turns from acknowledging those feelings to feeding those feelings. It's okay to assess: is this really worth being so upset?

This is by no means an exhaustive list, nor is it even necessarily a good one. You'll have to be the judge of that for yourself. All I know, though, is that this season that is so poised to frustrate and discourage me is turning out to be better than I expected, and I think it's because I've been looking up. I hope you will, too.