Getting through the dog days of being a Christian

If one goes outside, it doesn’t take long to figure out that summer has arrived.

My entire life I have heard these very hot and humid days of summer called the Dog Days of summer.

I had to do a little research to find out why they were called the Dog Days.

The phrase “dog days of summer” actually has nothing to do with man’s or woman’s best friend.

It turns out that the ancient Greeks and Romans weren’t referring to real dogs, but to the great astronomical one, Sirius.

Sirius, the Dog Star is located in the constellation Canis Major, known as the Greater Dog, and is the brightest star that shines at night.

Sirius is also known as the Nile Star or Star of Isis because ancient Egyptians noticed four thousand years ago that around the summer solstice, Sirius would appear to rise before dawn, which would be around the time when the Nile River would flood.

Since ancient Egyptian life depended on agriculture, the flowing river would either bring great prosperity or great destruction.

What does the star Sirius have to do with the dog days of summer?

According to the Farmer’s Almanac, during summer months — and specifically on July 23 — Sirius is extraordinarily bright and, in certain parts of the world, rises and sets with the sun at that time.

Ancient Romans believed Sirius contributed to the sun’s heat and thus referred to this extremely hot period as diēs caniculārēs, or “dog days.”

Over time the term evolved to mean the 20 days before and after July 23, or July 3 to August 11, to coincide with Sirius aligning with the sun. However, depending on where you are in the world, the astronomical dog days and the rising of Sirius vary.

As I was thinking about the dog days of summer I was also thinking that as a follower of Jesus, sometimes we too feel like our faith is in the Dog Days of summer.

At times it seems that it is just too “hot a time” socially or politically so to speak to want to share our faith.

Just as the hot summer days wear us down, those hard days of trying to be and live a Christian life can be just as hard.

We are afraid to talk about certain social issues because even affirming our stand on an issue can get in the hot seat or hot water. It is especially true nowadays on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. So we remain quiet and as “cool as a cucumber.” That is another strange idiom for another time though.

I know when I am outside even on the hottest of days, sometimes a sirocco wind blows and it reminds me of the scripture.

It reminds me of the day of Pentecost when God sent the Holy Spirit to refresh and enliven the witness of the first Apostles.

Jesus told the disciples in John 14 before he left them, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

Jesus told the disciples that the Holy Spirit will be with them even to the end of the days. Thus when we are hot and tired, often it seems that the Holy Spirit comes and refreshes us.

The Holy Spirit brings us peace.

The Holy Spirit brings us comfort.

The Holy Spirit bring us joy even when we are experience hot times in our life for living and sharing our faith,

So how do we remain strong? How do we survive all of these hot times because of sharing what we feel is right and eventually rise above his difficulties?

We must maintain a relationship with God and continued to serve Him.

Though we may be confused, betrayed, tempted, and tempest-tossed, we must never allow our faith to be compromised. We must stand for what we believe is right, even if we must stand alone apart from the crowd — and sometimes even our own closest family.

We must never back off from our devotion to God and what we feel is right, even though we may be thrown in the heat of the fiery furnace, to use mixed metaphors.

Always remember — always — God is bigger than any of the words or actions did against us

Always trust God when you’re in hot water because of your faith and trying to endure the dog days of the summer of your faith and remember, God will redeem every one of your struggles.

Always remember, “And not only that, but we also boast in suffering — knowing that suffering produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Ruach ha-Kodesh (Holy Spirit) who was given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5)

Rev. Frank Chlastak began work as senior minister of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Poplar Bluff on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015.