Part 1 - With Someone

Instructions: Take 5 minutes to discuss the first 2 questions with a small group of people that you did not come to this gathering with e.g., friends or LOL - “soon-to-be-friends-that-are-awkward-acquaintances.” 

1. How has your view of time changed since you were a child, teen, young adult, or adult? Or (if applicable) - take your current age and subtract 10-15 years and answer the above question.

2. Before you know it, Labor Day will kick in, summer will come to an end, and the leaves will fall to the ground.

Robertson Davies writes: “Every man makes his own summer. The season has no character of its own, unless one is a farmer with a professional concern for the weather."

Proverbs 6:6-8 says: "Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest."

Question to discuss: As you think about being more intentional about your summer, what is one phrase from Davies OR the Proverb that sticks out to you? Why?

Part 2 - Individually (or with your family)

Instructions: Take 10 minutes individually and process the questions below. 

Summer is a great time to strengthen relationships, connect over summer nights, and intentionally pursue activities that bring us life.

One creative way to design your summer is by fusing your 5 senses with BELLS. What does this look like? Keep scrolling!

Choose one sense (e.g., sight) that you want to focus on. You might choose the sense that gives you life or it might be the one that is neglected the most. Then: 

Step 1: Think about and write out creative ways to engage that sense this summer. For example, if you chose sight, you might say: "I want to do one thing every week that engages my sight. I want to go see a monument, finally visit that museum, go see my friend (who I've been meaning to see)....  If you chose taste you might consider: going to food festivals, trying one new food each week, picking a color of the week and making sure that every meal includes that color in a creative way.... 

Step 2: Take out your calendar and mark out realistic times that you will commit to doing this. 

Step 3: Consider how you might integrate BELLS into these activities. For example, if you are going to go see that monument, is there a friend/neighbor/non-believer that you can ask to join you? If you are going to go to the museum, are you able to bless another family and purchase their tickets and share that experience? If you are going to go see that friend, can you intentionally take time to "listen" to the Holy Spirit before your visit/when you are present with them to see what God might be saying?

If you chose taste, you might not only consider who you can invite, but you might also consider learning more about how food is sacred or to learn more about sustainability + food so that we can be better stewards. The opportunities are endless!

Part 3 - With Someone

Instructions: Find someone new that you have not interacted with and share with them what you began writing down in "Part 2." 

Part 4: Taking It Home 

Instructions: Set aside a specific time before next Sunday to finish designing your summer. Then, anticipate having an amazing summer refueling and "BELLS-ing!"

We can’t wait to hear the stories that come out of #designyoursummer.