A Message from Fr. Zehren

Germans have a word to describe this time of the year – Sauregurkenzeit. It literally translates as “sour pickle time” (because it’s the time when cucumbers are ready to be picked for pickling). It refers to the weeks during summer when there is not much happening. School is closed. People are away on vacation or at summer cabins or camps. Everybody is a little sluggish because of the heat. Not much is stirring.

My spirit too often experiences sauregurkenzeit during this time of the summer. It becomes hard for me to get inspired. Not much seems to be happening in prayer. I try not to get discouraged because eventually I’ll break out of the funk. It’s like opening a pickle jar. Most pickle jars are stubbornly hard to open. You grip and twist and grunt again and again. Nothing gives. So, you take a breath and relax and try again and – POP! It’s open.

Whenever and however sauregurkenzeit has you feeling stuck, sluggish, dull, or frustrated that nothing’s happening, in prayer or in some area of your life – breathe, relax, try again. God will pop it for you eventually. All things pass. Blessed be sauregurkenzeit!

Fr. Dennis Zehren
Pastor