What do you need to thrive this summer? We’re pondering this question alongside you as we reflect on what has truly been a remarkable academic year, one full of joy and sorrow, moments of triumph and seasons of grief. We’ve heard story after story of the challenges you’ve overcome and the struggles you’re wrestling through. Each one of you has been so very brave, so very persistent in the daily work of following Jesus.

You’ve been our inspiration for a special conversation, one that seeks to respond to the question, What does it look like to enter into summer from the position of this current cultural moment? We’ve invited four guests to participate in a roundtable discussion for this special episode as we wrap up our podcast season for this academic year. You’ll get to hear from four women with expertise in university culture, spiritual formation, and faith-work integration as we talk about the uniqueness of the days we’re living through. In this conversation, we’ll talk about the challenges we are seeing on campus these days and the opportunities we have to respond faithfully. We also talk about how to wrap up the school year and enter into summer with a posture that is reflective and intentional and life-giving.

“I think this would be a perfect time to choose to trust God with your future and with your present and just spend some time with him in nature, with other colleagues in prayer, in the word, etc.“ — Dr. Denise-Margaret Thompson

As we talked with these esteemed women, we heard an encouragement for all of us to take time to rest this summer — time to live an embodied life, allowing nourishment to flow through those depleted areas of body, mind, and soul. Whether or not your work is connected with the academic calendar, we hope that you might set aside some time for your own replenishment this summer.

At The Well, we’re creating space for our own rest, reflection, and planning this summer by pausing new publications in June and July. You won’t see new pieces at The Well, or find new episodes of The Women Scholars and Professionals Podcast, or receive your favorite weekly newsletter, or see us on social media.

We'll be back in August with new pieces for a new semester, new podcast episodes, a new fall book club, and the return of our weekly prayer meetings. In the meantime, we have a few suggestions for things you might enjoy:

• If you're looking for some summer reading, we recommend checking out our summer book club — there is still time to join — or get a head-start on reading for our fall book club.

• If you’d like to consider hosting a book discussion of your own, check out our list of book club discussion guides.

• If you would like to implement a summer practice for spiritual refreshment, you might enjoy using our visio divina series or our “Poems for Contemplation” series.

• If you’re a podcast listener, catch up on our podcast archives.

• If you appreciate the work our team does, would you consider financially supporting Women Scholars and Professionals with a monthly or one-time gift? You can find more information about giving here.

• And if you have questions or ideas, you can always reach out to us on email or send your greetings through a comment on this newsletter!

So until August, enjoy some of our most recent offerings at The Well!

Blessings to you all,

The staff at The Well

Four More Things We Loved This Week

1. A Professor’s Final Gift to Her Students: Her Life Savings (NY Times, unlocked)

2. “Our family can’t travel to Hawaii or Disneyland. But God’s refreshment is still within our reach.”

3. A 3-Minute Writing Practice for When You're Too Activated to Journal

4. This lemon and lime mintade seems like the perfect way to toast the start of summer. (And if you want something simpler, just mix up a batch of frozen limeade and toss in some mint leaves.) Cheers!