July 2026 Rock Newsletter - Take a Break
- Robert Harris
- 4 hours ago
- 5 min read
July 2026 Rock Newsletter |
 |
Take a BreakA Devotional from President Mike SwalmIt’s finally summer! For most people that means a bit less work as they dive into holiday mode. For some students they’re moving from education to summer work. And for some of RMC students, it means that they’re still plugging away in their studies. One of the things that summer meant to me as I was growing up was “rest.” It was a time when life could slow down a little bit. Interestingly, we’re getting worse and worse at slowing down a bit. Our work calls to us, even when we’re away. The lure of the phone and constant connectedness means that we rarely truly rest. We’re used to being busy, and we aren’t very good at knowing what to do when we aren’t busy. I’ve noticed a disturbing trend around me, and in my own life, that we have a hard time shutting off the external life and paying attention to what’s going on inside. And so this summer, I want to encourage us to reacquire a sense of “sabbath.” The command to rest must be one of the most ignored in all of scripture. The Israelites were commanded by God to take a day of rest, a day when they could acknowledge that the world continued to turn even when they weren’t working. It was a day to recognize that God was the creator and sustainer of all things. This summer, let us reacquire an idea of rest that resides in the rhythm that God started at the beginning. Six days we work. The seventh day, we stop working. But then, I hear you ask, what do we do? The sabbath is a time when we as God’s creation can remember our place within God’s creation, where we can appreciate what God did and what God does. It is a time when we can rejoice that we are not necessary to God’s creation, but we are beloved in that creation. It is a time when we can declare the truth: that while our work matters, so does our rest. I believe that the best celebration of God’s sabbath is to find myself among the people of God and His creation. Be the people of God, connect with each other in our homes, worship through food and friendship, walk through creation with an eye open for what God might be saying through His creation. Most of all, live a day of true thanksgiving, thanking God for the week behind and anticipating His goodness for the week ahead. Use the summer as a start, and then keep the rhythm going! Ready, set, REST.  President Mike Swalm |
 |
When I think back on my time at Rocky Mountain College, I remember far more than lectures and assignments. I remember the sense of belonging, the friendships formed over coffee and late-night conversations, and the professors and mentors who genuinely cared about who we were becoming, not just what we were studying. Some of my favourite memories are the simple ones: venturing to Nose Hill for a picnic, engaging in meaningful class discussions, gathering to play board games, and that one time that about ten people came out of the residence building to help push my van out of the snow when I got stuck. Rocky is sure full of people with heart! It was pretty special to all be growing up together. Life since graduating from the Edge program (2009) has taken me down a beautiful and winding path. I went across the country and the world for a six-month exchange program in Quebec and Mali, and then across the street for a Bachelor of Development Studies at the U of C. I have worked for the last decade as an admin in health care, and I am now raising four wonderful children while completing my Education Assistant certification and preparing to switch careers again. I've found such deep purpose as a parent, learning to lead with love and be a faithful steward of these precious lives I have been entrusted with. I have found that there's nothing quite like raising young people and working with kids to help you realize your immense potential in shaping the lives of others. It brings you face-to-face with your own flaws and inspires new growth, and I've loved the continued learning that has come from teaching. Through my family life, career and academic journey, I have carried the seeds of those Rocky days and have felt Jesus with me every step of the way. Looking back, I can clearly see how my time at Rocky Mountain College helped shape the foundation for the life I am building now. The emphasis on community, compassion, faith, and service deeply influenced the way I approach both parenting and work. Rocky Mountain College encouraged me to think critically, care deeply, and pursue work that contributes positively to the lives of others. It opened my heart to the work that God is continually refining in me, learning to see with His eyes, act as his hands, and walk bravely into the adventures He has planned for me.  |
  At RMC, your education fits your schedule - not the other way around. Study when it works for you, whether that's early mornings, evenings, or weekends, and earn your diploma or degree without putting your life on hold to do it. |
 Be A DonorYour donation to Rocky Mountain College directly empowers students to achieve their goals and create lasting impact in their communities. With your support, we can continue to foster Christian education, growth, and leadership for tomorrow’s trailblazers. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps shape the future of higher learning and transforms lives. |
 |
|
 |
