July is the best month of the year. I said it once, and I’ll say it again for the people in the back…July is the BEST month of the year. 

Despite my potential personal biases, here’s why:

1. Fireworks
2. My birthday
3. Sunshine, pool time, baseball
4. No school (if that’s your thing)
5. Summer vacations (if school isn’t your thing anymore)
6. Some SOLID saint feast days, including: Mary Magdelene, St. Veronica, St. Junipero Serra, St. Anne, St. James, the sibling trio of Mary, Martha and Lazarus, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Olaf (okay – I didn’t know this til I looked it up but there is a St. Olaf and he was “often called “the Fat”, spent his youth as a pirate.”

I could go on, but I shall refrain. 

People dancing, people laughing
A man selling ice cream
Singing Italian songs
Eh Cumpari, ci vo sunari
Can you dig it? Yes, I can
And I’ve been waiting such a long time
For Saturday

CHICAGO. “SATURDAY IN THE PARK”.

This July in particular was one for the books and will go down in my own personal history as one that will be tough to top. There were many milestones – celebrating my 40th with so many of my favorite people, seeing Beyonce in concert in Vegas, opening up an LLC, literally putting up 12 billboards across Texas to bring hope and assistance in healing, reuniting with old friends and making some new, lifelong ones. Can you dig it? Yes, Chicago, yes, I can.

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It is good that we are here!

Of all the people in the bible, I probably relate the most to Peter…for lots of reasons – but the one I’ll expand upon today is Peter during the Transfiguration. 

Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

Mark 2:5

I know Peter and I are not alone in this sentiment. I love it when things are good. I love it so much that I want to bottle it up and keep it forever. I’ve struggled and fought against change. I’ve declared, like Peter, “let’s stay here”. Letting go and saying goodbye is the worst – after a short encounter or a lifelong, permanent one. 

Today, I say goodbye to July 2025 and one of my closest friends. In a few hours, my sweet, one of a kind, special, and all-time favorite people will say goodbye as well. She will be saying goodbye to her old self and officially take on a new self in the form of a new name, a new habit (the long loose garment, not the tendency/practice), a new hairdo (or lack thereof), a new way of life, a new beginning. She will no longer be Elizabeth, but will take on a new name, just like so many people in the Bible do when the Lord transforms their lives into something even greater, more fulfilling, richer, and deeper. 

I imagine the confusion and disappointment that Peter had, coming down from Mount Tabor. I imagine it and have felt that so deeply in my core. Lord – this is good. How could you take this away? Why can’t this last forever – or at least a little bit longer? 

But because I know the way Peter’s story ended, I know there is something bigger and better than Mount Tabor. In our limited vision of our own story, we can’t see the glory that is to come – both on earth and ultimately in heaven. And with that context, I will CLING to the sometimes way too tiny shred of trust I have. I will believe that this will all be even better than I could plan for myself. Just like Peter. 

So grab a tissue and cue up the playlist. In the words of Green Day, through one of the greatest, most nostalgic, freaking jams of all time: 

It’s something unpredictable
But in the end, is right
I hope you had the time of your life

GREEN DAY. “GOOD RIDDANCE (TIME OF YOUR LIFE)”.