Those Lazy,Hazy Crazy Days of Summer

It's July already. That means summer vacations, backyard barbeques, gardening, and much more. I still remember a song by Nat King Cole called "Those Lazy, Crazy HazyDays of Summer." Whatever happened to those?

It was the summer of 1963 when that song was popular and I remember hearing that song on the radio quite frequently. I often think of that summer as the last summer of innocence in this country. Summer led to fall and in November of that year was the Kennedy assassination in Dallas. It seemed the world changed after that.

But I remember that summer. It was before the days of cable and satellite TV, video games, the internet and so many other things that eat up the time of both young and old. We were busy but nothing like today. In fact, often it seemed like days stretched on forever. It was a simple time.

Now I look at the lives most of us lead today and I wonder how much longer before the Lord's return. We are all so busy, incredibly busy. We have everything to do and time to do nothing. Our impossible schedules also keep us apart from the Lord. I'm so guilty of being way too busy. I don't take enough time to pray or read the Bible. I sometimes prioritize the Lord, saying, 'Well Lord, I think I can fit you in from 2:45-3pm today, and possibly longer if my 3:00 appointment cancels."

We need to simplify things. As the group Telecast proclaims, "It's the beauty of simplicity." I believe there is a correlation in the simplicity of our lives and our walk with the Lord.

Satan also does a wonderful job of distracting us. We often focus on such trivial concerns that it's not really worth it.

So go out today and tell your wife or husband that you love them. Do the same with your children...and pray.