The First Breath of Summer
After two days filled with beautiful sights and the scent of village life, we have returned to the city. Yesterday was a day of pause, as it was a public holiday here in Greece. The entire country celebrates the Holy Spirit.
Happy June, everyone! Τhe slower rhythm of life continued. Most shops were closed, and many people had left either for the seaside or for a short escape outside the city. It is an important celebration that brings together faith, tradition, and everyday Greek life. Yet there is something else about this day that I have always found beautiful. For me, it has always symbolized the transition from spring into summer.
After spending two days in the village, Mary and I were so tired yesterday that we could have fallen asleep almost anywhere. Thankfully, the weather was kind to us. The cooler temperatures and the rain during the night helped us slow down and rest.
Today is Tuesday, and the week continues.Without hurry. I spend the morning taking care of our little one, and in the afternoon I return to my office for my appointments. This morning Mary cooked lentils. Although I usually think of them as a winter dish, the vegetables, olive oil, and simple ingredients somehow gave the meal a distinctly summer feeling. Our little one also learned a new word today:
"Air Conditioner."
A new word, and the first day this year that we truly needed one here in Greece.
Tonight, I look forward to sitting down with Mary after our little one has gone to sleep, reading about your daily lives, drawing inspiration from your stories, and travelling through your experiences to places far beyond our own country. I will leave you today with a verse from the Bible about the Holy Spirit, since yesterday was dedicated to its celebration.
And I am curious: If you have read the Bible, which passage has stayed with you the most, and how has it helped you in your life?
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
— Galatians 5:22-23
If you read all the way to the end, thank you. We would genuinely love to hear your thoughts, memories, or feelings in the comments. And if you ever feel like writing to us more personally, you can always send us a letter at:
✉️ unplug.thrive@gmail.com
— Mary & Chris
It sounds like a lovely day. We are still very cool here but warmer days are coming.
ReplyDeleteCathy
Hello Cathy! Thank you so much for your message and for visiting our little corner. It was a wonderful three days spent with family, and that little break was truly rejuvenating. I really love the kind of weather you are having right now hot weather is definitely not my favorite!
DeleteThe photo with all the cherries is beautiful. I once had a cherry tree, but now I live in a small flat with plum trees outside and no room for more trees. I have never read the Bible, we are not church people.
ReplyDeleteGood morning from Greece! Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment! It's wonderful that you have plum trees so close to your home. And for anyone who doesn't have the opportunity to be surrounded by nature at home, adding a few plants can be a great way to bring some of that connection into daily life. I'm sure that themes such as freedom and breathing appear in many other writings as well.Thank you again for your lovely comment!
DeleteOne of my favourite Bible passages is Psalm 100.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos. ❤️
What a beautiful Psalm! I just read it.This year, because we've been getting frequent rain, nature is incredibly green and full of blooms. In other years, because of the climate, there has often been a lot of dryness instead.Thank you so much for your comment, Linda! For the Lord is good and his love endures forever, his faithfulness continues through all generations.
DeleteWe had our first really warm day today ( 30C) here on the west coast of Canada. Tomorrow will be a bit cooler ( which is better for getting things done).
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I can pick a single verse from the Bible but I do know that it would probably come from 1 John since I love that book the most.
Granny Marigold
Hello and good morning from Greece, Granny Marigold! A mild temperature really does help when it comes to getting things done otherwise, the body can become exhausted from the heat. I hope, if possible, that you have pleasant temperatures throughout the entire summer there in Canada. Thank you very much for leaving your comment in our little space. One verse from John's writings that you might enjoy is, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God." - 1 John 4:7
DeleteLovely cherries, one of my most favourite food.
ReplyDeleteHello Margaret. Thank you for being here on our page! We're delighted to welcome you.
DeleteReally? They're Mary's favorite too. As for me, I absolutely love strawberries because they have a sweeter taste.
HOWEVER. When it comes to jam, my favorite is cherry with dark chocolate... 😊
"The entire country celebrates the Holy Spirit." what a beautiful sentiment! I have so many favorite scriptures, but the one that comes to mind in this season is this:
ReplyDelete"Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke and learn from me, for I am lowly and humble at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
It's a beautiful reminder that we have freedom in Christ. We don't have to perform and there isn't a checklist of duties we have to complete, for him to love us.
I love hearing about your days in Greece! I hope you got some rest after your return from the village :)
Hey Debbie, I'm so happy to see your comment. It's one of Jesus' most powerful passages because it is the ultimate definition of surrender, and it's where our trust is revealed. I don't know whether it can ever be achieved perfectly by human beings, but simply knowing that there is an open embrace without judgment, and that it will remain there forever whenever and if it happens, is the ultimate freedom. We managed to get some rest, and the week continues. I'm looking forward to reading more of your beautiful everyday surprises. Thank you for your comment. We really appreciate you!
DeleteThe cherries are so pretty and I love to eat them too. :). Hope you had your nice relaxing evening.
ReplyDeleteI read the Bible (KJV) every day. One of my favorite verses and my life verse is Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. John 3:16 really says it all, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Hello and good morning from Greece. Thank you for being here with us. The cherries are cared for by my father, and because of the weather this year they turned out especially delicious. I wish I could send you some to try. Both of those passages are very beautiful. It truly amazes me that, even after 2,000 years, the presence of Jesus remains so strong. Whether someone believes or not, He is beside us whenever we choose to seek Him 😊
DeleteThank you for your visit to Cornwall. I'm enjoying reading some of ypur posts of your life in Greece.
ReplyDeleteHello Elizabeth! It brings us great joy to read about the experiences of people from all around the world, and your blog is one of the ones we always look forward to reading. We eagerly await whatever you choose to share next. We are grateful that you are here, and we hope you'll continue to join us in the thoughts and experiences we share from Greece.
DeleteI love how you connect the Holy Spirit with summer’s light and freedom.
ReplyDeleteThe cherries look delicious.
Beautiful photos!
Good morning, Veronica! I hope you're doing well and that you have plenty of inspiration to keep sharing beautiful things on your blog with us. The cherries were truly delicious. The weather helped a lot this year, but they certainly need care and attention as well! I found a connection between the two, and I hope you enjoyed the article and found it an easy and pleasant read. Thank you for being part of our little community.
DeleteI love 🍒 cherries. But here summer means getting roasted 🔥🔥 in the heat.
ReplyDelete