Michigan Summers

We’re in the midst of our annual summer trip to Michigan. If you’ve never been, just know, summers in Michigan are the absolute best. The weather is so lovely, cool enough in the morning to wear a cozy sweatshirt and warm enough during the day to hang out in a bathing suit. 

Part of this trip has been going on for over twenty years. One side of my family gathers in Traverse City for a reunion. The trip activities have not changed a whole lot year to year, but the consistency of it has been something I’ve begun to really value the past few years. It reveals the subtle changes of family, for instance, the youngest of the grandkids is now nearly done with college and the next generation has begun with Liam. Spouses and fiancés and relationships have been added. Much is the same and much is very different.

When I was thinking about it at first, I felt sad, the bittersweet taste of change. Welcoming in the new is a joyful thing, but it also coincides with letting go of old seasons. The tension is real, and I found myself emotional on more than one occasion, though some of that may have been connected to wrangling a very energetic toddler…

Tradition and innovation. We need both. Tradition and the consistency of it tells us who we are and where we’ve come from, while innovation helps us be a part of creating where we’re going and reminds us that change brings with it a lot of good as well. 

Change helps us experience traditions with a new perspective. 

I find it interesting that I’ve been invested in the psalms the past few months. Throughout the ups and downs of the book, one thing remains true: the psalmist praises the Lord and regularly reflects on his faithfulness.

He encompasses both tradition and innovation. He remains constant and faithful and patiently guides us into new seasons of trusting Him.

There’s comfort in that.

I’ll continue to look forward to these summer trips which have grown to include reunions with both sides of my extended family. I’ll continue to enjoy being around bodies of water at almost every turn, riding in the boat at the cottage, soaking in the farm atmosphere, and, ultimately, embracing that time moves forward and brings change with it. 

Fortunately, He is faithful through it all.