Rounding out Spring, Moving into Summer

I don’t know about you, but I feel like 2026 is flying by like a high-speed rail train rushing past. As much as I am intentionally trying to pause, reflect, and slow down, time seems to be slipping through my fingers.

And while I want to savor each moment, I also don’t want to become stuck in it. I want to remain tethered to the present- not dwelling on the past or constantly pushing toward the future. Oh, what a dance that is.

Lately, I have found it easy to waltz back and forth especially as I am watching my children pass through milestones, hearing stories of graduations, and attend yet another year of closing ceremonies and field days. These moments remind me that life is always moving.

Perhaps this is one of those seasons where we simply dance.

Moments where we allow God to lead us ever so gracefully through. Through the uncertainties and the dips of life. Trusting that He has us. Trusting that He can hold us up if we will simply let Him. 

The most beautiful dances are those where the partner trusts the lead. Where she melts into his arms and follows his movements with confidence. This is following Christ, being attuned to the working of the Holy Spirit in your life and allowing God to gently guide your steps. 

He leads us through moments of joy and grief, celebration and uncertainty, inviting us to remain anchored in Him even when life feels unpredictable. And while it feels uncertain to us, He is sovereign and in control. He has already written our stories and knows the dance set before us.

At The Retreat House, we talk often about slowing down to notice. And that is important- especially in a culture that constantly urges us to hurry. But what do we do when life’s pace seems unwilling to cooperate? What happens when the gentle waltz suddenly becomes a two-step?

As followers of Christ and seekers of a contemplative life, what do we do? 

We lean more deeply into the Lead. We turn toward the Father, and then we smile and enjoy the dance. We do not fixate on the misstep from a moment ago, nor do we worry about the dips that may be coming. We remain present, trusting that our bodies know the rhythm and that God is faithful to guide us.

Of course, this sounds much easier in theory than it often feels in practice. In reality, it may look like taking a few deep breaths when anxiety begins to rise. One practice I return to often is breath prayer. It is simple, grounding, and accessible wherever you are.

When life begins to speed up, pause.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Become aware of God's presence with you.

Feel free to take a screen shot of this and keep it in your phone to reference later.  I love to have an album in my phone with gentle reminders of how to pause, to breathe, to use my tools, and to remember whose I am and whom I serve (Acts 27:23). Having them easy to access sets me up for success.

Another practice I find helpful is paying attention to the three centers of intelligence: the head, the heart, and the body. 

When you notice yourself swimming in endless thoughts or becoming overwhelmed by emotions, gently "drop" into your body. Visualize yourself stepping out of the swirl and settling into the present moment. Notice what you can see, hear, smell, and feel. Relax your shoulders. Unclench your jaw. Take a short walk. Stretch. Move.

Allow your body to remind you that you are here.

On the other hand, if you find yourself feeling reactive, restless, or tossed to and fro by your circumstances, pause and ask yourself: 

How am I feeling?

Sometimes that can be a surprisingly difficult question to answer. A feelings wheel can be a helpful tool for finding language for what is happening beneath the surface. Naming an emotion often helps us process it rather than being controlled by it.

Once you have named it, you can gently turn toward God and ask:

Lord, what do You want me to do?

Summer offers a beautiful invitation to notice a change in pace and to pay attention to the abundance surrounding us in creation. Rather than resisting the season, perhaps we can lean into it- allowing nature to remind us of God's goodness, provision, and presence. 

He is with us in all of it.

In the chaos and the quiet.

In the laughter and the tears.

In the celebration and the uncertainty.

He is with us.

We are blessed with these inner rhythms that tell us where we are, and where we are going. No matter, then, our fifty- and sixty-hour work weeks, the refusing to stop for lunch, the bypassing sleep and working deep into the darkness. If we stop, if we return to rest, our natural state asserts itself. Our natural wisdom and balance come to our aid, and we can find our way to what is good, necessary, and true. -Wayne Muller

We have several ways that you can intentionally slow down and move towards noticing at The Retreat House. Learn more about CP Groups, session work with a counselor, coach, or spiritual director, half day silent retreats, and open hours, and a special Help for the Helper Retreat designed specifically for those in helping professions like teachers, ministry leaders, first responders, counselors, and medical professionals. 

Be encouraged and follow along with all we have going on socials! And as my dear spiritual director often reminds me:

Go gently.