Another school year has started. As a dad with a kid in Elementary school, that means drawing straws with my wife to see who is making his lunch and figuring out the drop-off and pick-up schedule for the next day. The sunny summer days of spontaneity are becoming the crisp autumn days of routine. Sometime soon we will roll out of bed, see the rainy winter days of monotony, and mutter quietly to ourselves: “Here we go again…”

Our oldest child’s name is Maverick. He is a fun kid, he is 6 now, loves biking, playing video games with me and is always down for an impromptu wrestling match. We often get asked if we named him Maverick because we are big fans of the movie TopGun, the answer is no.

Doing good and being rich in good works and being generous and ready to share aren’t just about money. Too often we limit generosity to writing checks. But wealth is more than money. We ought to be generous with our time and our efforts and our talents and our skills.

My wife and I travelled back to my hometown of Jasper for a few days this last week in order to visit my parents and to explore the old stomping grounds. We visited the Bear Paw Bakery to get our hands on a legendary raspberry white chocolate scone, we took a bike ride around the townsite, and even had the chance to see the famous Athabasca Falls. It’s a beautiful town and I was blessed to grow up there.

In a recurring dream (or maybe it’s a nightmare?), I find myself back in college during exams week. The registrar’s office has informed me that I am still enrolled in a course I thought I had dropped, and that there’s nothing to be done except take the final exam. The problem is that I don’t know where the exam is being given.

Summer is for the simple joys of sunshine, cold drinks, long nights, and memorable but unremarkable moments with friends and family. So what better season to remind yourself of the simple, and simply staggering, truth that Jesus loves you. More than that, he likes you and wants you to join him around the campfire. There is a spot there for you.