Date: July 25, 2025
We are at, or slightly beyond the halfway mark of our summer break from our educational programs at Virginia Theological Seminary, and our Fall semester is around the corner. Exciting as that sounds, the feeling of the clock ticking, summer running out, can certainly create anxiety, and that the race to stillness, is very much upon us. From the moment the green light of life clicks on, to the moment it goes red, and our work is done, how often are we living in yellow, the slow time, the still time? If you’ve taken pastoral care classes or had a spiritual director, this is also called “self-care” time.
It’s funny to me how as seminarians, we may anticipate the close of classes to be the end of the tunnel each year with great anticipation for the Summer, a hopeful reprieve from obligations, stressful schedules, relentless reading assignments, and laundry lists of tasks to complete, aka the grind. The “outside world” also seems to share this illusion, that we are always rushing, working, moving, doing, all to get to some finish line where we can finally just be still, and rest. “If I can just get through this week…THEN I can rest…” Sound familiar? Many of us this Summer, have continued to work, have been enrolled in CPE, been catching up on family life, getting ahead on assignments, etc. Do we ever really get there, to stillness? This question has been plaguing me lately because ever since I started seminary (and before), I don’t feel like I’ve paused much. Maybe this is a reality of life (self-inflicted or not) and I’m almost certain that it is; Do we ever truly stop? Being a New Yorker, I’ve become accustomed to a busy schedule and always being on the go, but lately, I’m wondering who “instilled” (no pun intended) this mentality in us as humans? The sense of urgency that propels us forward each day, to do, accomplish, produce, provide, perform, etc.? How do we tell the difference in God calling us to “do” and God calling us to “be?”
Why does running toward stillness (a place of contentment and being), also direct us away from it? Even during the summer break, have you taken “a break?” A beat? Have you spent a day or a few of nothingness for reflection and stillness? If you haven’t, what is stopping you? School is just a month and some change away… Life is a race indeed, but it doesn’t have to be, we can take some time to walk and not run, we can stop and smell the roses and the world will still keep turning, the universe will not collapse, even if we do, into a bed for much needed rest.
I pray that each of you find rest and rejuvenation before the rigorousness of seminary begins again. One last thing: perhaps this year, we can start to prioritize our self-care, slow down, and not rush as much as we’re used to. In the meantime, lean on your friends and family to support you in this journey and know this community is behind you all the way!
Caroline Mazzocchi
Student Body Chaplain