A hasty application of sunscreen

Summertime: popsicles, bike rides, boat trips, bonfires, lemonade stands, and… sun rash? For me, the long sunshiny days of summer mean sun rash. For the past 10+ years, I have developed an allergy to the sun which causes me break out in a sun rash after being exposed to the warming rays of summer. These little red dots adorning my arms and legs let me know I have been in the sun without wearing the oh-so-important sunscreen my fair skinned, red headed, freckled faced body needs.

I have recently been trying to run outside rather than on a treadmill inside to get my body used to running in the unpredictable elements of the outdoors. This also means I have been in the sun more than usual. Before going for one of these runs taking place under the sun, it is crucial I put on sunscreen if I don’t want to come home looking like I was just painted by seurat the dot. However, the first thing I do when I wake up is not put on sunscreen. I usually eat breakfast, have a cup of coffee, lounge with my mom, read the newspaper, make a lousy attempt at the New York Times Daily Crossword, and play tug of war with Zoe. All of a sudden I look at the clock, realize I have an hour and a half before I need to be off to work, run upstairs to throw on running clothes, and fly out the door. Sometimes I am lucky enough to remember a slathering of sunscreen between putting on the running clothes and flying out the door, but sadly, it is not often.

Even on the days I do remember a quick dose of sunscreen, I know it is not doing me much good. It has not had time to sink in. It is quickly taken away by the sweat running down my face, the sun beating on my arms, or the (frequent) Washington rain splashing on my legs. The sunscreen essentially served little or no purpose.

In order for us as Christians to hold our ground and avoid the beatings of the world around us, we have to let the words of the Bible sink in. We can’t assume that a quick skimming of the book of John will be enough for us to walk out the door and bring someone to Christ, we can’t expect that a lackadaisical glance at Colossians will keep us on the straight and narrow, we can’t believe that an occasional flipping through Revelation will make us into theological geniuses. We have to make an effort of diving into the Word, digging deeper, and giving it time to sink in. If we are in a hurry to read the Bible without approaching it with purpose and being intentional about gaining understanding, the first ray of sun, drop of rain, or stream of sweat will wipe it all away.

The world we live in is like the sun on my sensitive skin. If I step out into the sun unprepared or with a hasty application of sunscreen, I am in big trouble. If I step out into the world without having a firm foundation in the Word, I am in big trouble. Sunscreen takes time to sink in and to serve its purpose. Our study of the Word takes time. David writes, “I will meditate on they precepts, and I have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in they statues: I will not forget thy word” (Psalm 119:15-16). I do not want to forget the Word. I want to “delight in the law of the Lord, mediating on it day and night” (1:2).

Once we have meditated on the Word and let it sink it, we will be ready for any unpredictable elements coming our way. My time in the Word, my search to know God more, and my attempt to follow Christ will not be a hasty application of sunscreen. It will be an intentional lathering of sunscreen properly applied before sun exposure, keeping me safe and prepared.