Wellness When the Pace Changes
“This life, therefore, is not godliness but the process of becoming godly, not health but getting well, not being but becoming, not rest but exercise. We are not now what we shall be, but we are on the way.” – Martin Luther
When summer arrives, we tend to think things will begin to slow down – we’ll have longer days, time away, and a little more balance. But in reality, this season can feel just as busy. Weekends fill quickly, calendars shift, and we lose the routines that ground us during the year.
“Transitions can be disconcerting when you’ve had a routine and all of a sudden that changes,” said the Rev. Shelley Cunningham, director of Customer Outreach and Church Relations at Portico Benefit Services, a separately incorporated ministry of the ELCA.
As those routines start to shift, different parts of our well-being start to feel it too. Portico approaches well-being holistically through the Wholeness Wheel – interconnected dimensions with spiritual well-being at the center. This approach frees us from the pressure of trying to keep everything in balance, instead inviting us to notice how each dimension connects and where your attention is needed most.
Paying Attention to What Matters Most
During the summer, for example, we might say yes to more social commitments and find ourselves stretched, while not getting the rest we need. Over time, that can leave us feeling depleted and signal that it might be time to let something go.
“We are all carrying so much,” Cunningham said. “Sometimes you have to set things down for a while and give yourself the grace to say, ‘Not right now.’ Not because those things don’t matter, but because even good things take energy and sometimes add to the mental and emotional load.”
“Staying rooted in faith helps us navigate seasons of change and live with intention as priorities and demands ebb and flow,” Cunningham said.
She noted that summer can bring a different kind of challenge for rostered ministers, who are trying to maintain momentum in their congregations. In those moments, she said, leaning on colleagues, a coach or counselor, or others in the congregation can be especially important.
Making Space to Listen
For Jennifer Prinz, one of Portico’s regional representatives, this has been a season of deeper transition. After the loss of her husband – an ELCA pastor – last year, she has found herself leaning more intentionally into the spiritual grounding that has long been part of her life and work.
“Often we need time just to listen to what the Holy Spirit is nudging us to do,” she said. “It’s hard to hear that when we’re always plugged in. I feel especially connected to God in nature. Gardening in the summertime helps me slow down and focus on God’s creation.”
Even small moments of beauty can help restore a sense of calm.
“Some people talk about ‘bloom scrolling’ – looking at images of delicate flowers – instead of doom scrolling. Even noticing how the sky is different every day can draw your attention back to God’s creation, Prinz said. “There’s so much to take in during the summer if we pay attention.”
Focusing on what grounds us can help, Cunningham said. “The promise that God’s faithfulness is new every morning can keep us grounded, even when everything else feels overwhelming,” she said.
Small Ways to Stay Grounded
Together, they offered a few simple practices that can help us remain centered in faith:
- Deep breathing to refocus your attention
- Tracing the sign of the cross on your forehead as a reminder of your baptism
- Smiling intentionally to release tension
- Using a short scripture or affirmation
- Spending time in nature
- Journaling or practicing gratitude
Connecting with others also plays an important role. Without her husband, Prinz missed having a walking partner but found support in a local hiking group. She also began hosting simple gatherings she calls Soup and Sharing.
These small connections – with others and with God – can help us stay anchored, even as everything around us shifts. “Notice what gives you energy – and what creates strain,” Cunningham said. “Pay attention to what helps you stay grounded in God’s presence. That’s often your guide.”
Prayer for Staying Centered
Lord of abundant life, we give you thanks for the waters of baptism and the ways in which you make all things new. Create newness in us and guide us toward lives of wholeness and peace. Amen.