Intentional Summer Break by Ashley Ramsey on 05/12/2009 at 4:02 PM

When school would let out for the summer I'd take about two weeks to sleep off my exhaustion, get in the summer work routine and completely avoid talking to my college friends (by the end of the semester I always needed a break from my buds). But when I'd start my catch-up phone calls I'd ask how the summer had been so far and the answer I got most of the time was "hard." 

"Being home is ... hard" seemed to be a theme in my conversations with college friends during breaks. One of my best friends came to Christ in college. She got involved in campus ministry and grew exponentially in her faith. And for her, going home was a battleground. It seemed like all the old temptations and tendencies met her at the city limits of her hometown.

Maybe you're like my friend and going home comes with difficulties like getting out of your quiet-time routine or peer pressure from old friends. Today's article offers common sense advice about how to be faithful in what can feel like a dry time. Here are some of the tips Lindsay gives about how to have an intentional summer:

• Before leaving for break, make a commitment with a close Christian friend to check in at least a couple times a week. Think of things in advance that may be challenges for you and put them on a list of questions your accountability partner can ask you.
• Set a goal to work through your prayer list. I've found that nothing helps me become focused on God more quickly than pouring my heart out to Him in prayer.
• Think about which of your friends God has really placed on your heart, and spend time with them in an effort to show God's love to them. For example, instead of struggling at a party, ask a friend out to lunch.
• View your family as a ministry opportunity. Sit down and have a quality conversation with your mom or dad. Ask (and truly care) about what is going on with your brother or sister. Be the person to mow the lawn before people have to go on safaris just to navigate through it.

Most college students just finished finals. If you're one who's going to be home for the summer (or even if you're going to be somewhere else) this is a great reminder that summer may be a break from classes, but it shouldn't be a break from pursuing godliness.

Intentional Summer Break by Ashley Ramsey on 05/12/2009 at 4:02 PM

When school would let out for the summer I'd take about two weeks to sleep off my exhaustion, get in the summer work routine and completely avoid talking to my college friends (by the end of the semester I always needed a break from my buds). But when I'd start my catch-up phone calls I'd ask how the summer had been so far and the answer I got most of the time was "hard." 

"Being home is ... hard" seemed to be a theme in my conversations with college friends during breaks. One of my best friends came to Christ in college. She got involved in campus ministry and grew exponentially in her faith. And for her, going home was a battleground. It seemed like all the old temptations and tendencies met her at the city limits of her hometown.

Maybe you're like my friend and going home comes with difficulties like getting out of your quiet-time routine or peer pressure from old friends. Today's article offers common sense advice about how to be faithful in what can feel like a dry time. Here are some of the tips Lindsay gives about how to have an intentional summer:

• Before leaving for break, make a commitment with a close Christian friend to check in at least a couple times a week. Think of things in advance that may be challenges for you and put them on a list of questions your accountability partner can ask you.
• Set a goal to work through your prayer list. I've found that nothing helps me become focused on God more quickly than pouring my heart out to Him in prayer.
• Think about which of your friends God has really placed on your heart, and spend time with them in an effort to show God's love to them. For example, instead of struggling at a party, ask a friend out to lunch.
• View your family as a ministry opportunity. Sit down and have a quality conversation with your mom or dad. Ask (and truly care) about what is going on with your brother or sister. Be the person to mow the lawn before people have to go on safaris just to navigate through it.

Most college students just finished finals. If you're one who's going to be home for the summer (or even if you're going to be somewhere else) this is a great reminder that summer may be a break from classes, but it shouldn't be a break from pursuing godliness.

Comments

[1. Renee said the following at 4:46 PM on May 12:]

1

Great article. It's also a good idea to take any opportunities for summer missions/training that might be available through your church or college ministry. I've spent the past several summers doing that, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. Now I am moving on to a summer internship. I don't know what to expect, but I do know that God wants to teach me something through it.

[2. Joanna said the following at 4:21 AM on May 13:]

2

I found coming home for the summer after my first year of college really hard. For the first few weeks i felt depressed, little things like food would trip me out, i often longed to be back at college. I was doing some reading on culture shock (which is normally experienced moving between countries) and the symptoms were an exact fit. I would say to people going home for their first summer break that since both you and your family/friends will have changed while you are away so be aware that it might be a bit emotionally jarring. Plan ahead of time healthy things you can do if reintegrating back into a home lifestyle becomes too frustrating.

[3. Loris said the following at 7:05 AM on May 13:]

3

Going home always was hard. I didn't have any friends at home, and my parents expected me to start job hunting exactly two hours after I pulled in the driveway mid-May. (They did graciously allow two hours for a snack and a shower after a six hour drive!) I spent summers working full time, taking night classes, and dreaming of the fall.

[4. David said the following at 5:47 PM on May 14:]

4

The transition to summer break, much like the transition to college, involves dislocation from a close Christian community. In both instances, maintaining a vibrant, God-centered life requires continuity in Christian community - be it through fellowship with new friends or disciplined follow-ups with old. Both efforts require taking initiative.

[5. Leigh Glover said the following at 5:44 PM on May 16:]

5

It also is a hard adjustment for parents to have their adult child back at home. Keeping my expectations low on how much time my son or daughter will be around the house and giving them lost of freedom to come and go with only small restrictions such as a 1AM curfew and agreed upon help around the house that can be done at their own pace seems to work well. My son has a large number of friends still at home that he enjoys renewing his friendship with. So he saw coming home as another chance to hang out with a different group for the summer. Plus our church is full of college students that stay for the summer semester. It has for the most part been a great few weeks with them back at home. Look around in your town for a growing church with a minister for young adult/college you might meet some really great people to grow in the Lord with.

[1. Renee said the following at 4:46 PM on May 12:]

1

Great article. It's also a good idea to take any opportunities for summer missions/training that might be available through your church or college ministry. I've spent the past several summers doing that, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. Now I am moving on to a summer internship. I don't know what to expect, but I do know that God wants to teach me something through it.

[2. Joanna said the following at 4:21 AM on May 13:]

2

I found coming home for the summer after my first year of college really hard. For the first few weeks i felt depressed, little things like food would trip me out, i often longed to be back at college. I was doing some reading on culture shock (which is normally experienced moving between countries) and the symptoms were an exact fit. I would say to people going home for their first summer break that since both you and your family/friends will have changed while you are away so be aware that it might be a bit emotionally jarring. Plan ahead of time healthy things you can do if reintegrating back into a home lifestyle becomes too frustrating.

[3. Loris said the following at 7:05 AM on May 13:]

3

Going home always was hard. I didn't have any friends at home, and my parents expected me to start job hunting exactly two hours after I pulled in the driveway mid-May. (They did graciously allow two hours for a snack and a shower after a six hour drive!) I spent summers working full time, taking night classes, and dreaming of the fall.

[4. David said the following at 5:47 PM on May 14:]

4

The transition to summer break, much like the transition to college, involves dislocation from a close Christian community. In both instances, maintaining a vibrant, God-centered life requires continuity in Christian community - be it through fellowship with new friends or disciplined follow-ups with old. Both efforts require taking initiative.

[5. Leigh Glover said the following at 5:44 PM on May 16:]

5

It also is a hard adjustment for parents to have their adult child back at home. Keeping my expectations low on how much time my son or daughter will be around the house and giving them lost of freedom to come and go with only small restrictions such as a 1AM curfew and agreed upon help around the house that can be done at their own pace seems to work well. My son has a large number of friends still at home that he enjoys renewing his friendship with. So he saw coming home as another chance to hang out with a different group for the summer. Plus our church is full of college students that stay for the summer semester. It has for the most part been a great few weeks with them back at home. Look around in your town for a growing church with a minister for young adult/college you might meet some really great people to grow in the Lord with.