Well, here we are in the time of year that people take vacations. I know I love taking vacations.
Where is your favorite vacation spot? I was thinking about this the other day, I have been on a lot of vacations. I go to the ocean at least once every summer. I have been on a cruise, spent time on an island in the Caribbean and, growing up, I spent every summer up in the Berkshires. My parents had a home right on the Mohawk Trail. My dad always said that it was God’s country. Truthfully as much as I have enjoyed visiting new places, I think my favorite vacations were growing up and being able to spend time away from all the noises of the city. As I got older and started to vacation with my husband and kids it was going to the ocean. There is just something about watching and hearing the waves crash on the beach that is very relaxing and refreshing for me. Sometimes I think we get caught up in our schedules of everyday life and are always on the go. There is always somewhere to be or someone to see. Before we know it weeks and sometimes even months have passed, and we have not really had any time for ourselves to just sit back and rest.
I decided to look and see what the bible says about taking time for ourselves or taking a vacation. This is what I found. The bible doesn’t really tell us one way or the other about taking a vacation, but the bible does say that even God rested on the 7th day.
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all is work that he had done.
Genesis 2:1-3
In Exodus God tells his people to rest from their labor on the 7th day. God never meant for us to be on the go 365 days a year. In Mark after the disciples fed the 5,000 there were so many people that just kept coming that they couldn’t even take time to eat, and God told his disciples to go with him for rest.
The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest awhile.”
Mark 6:30-31
I believe that if we take that time for us then we are serving God we are much more effective because we have renewed our bodies and our minds including our spirit. We can have a fresh look on things when we jump back in. Sometimes God will give you new ideas and desires. I hope you all take time to step back and rest, even if it is just finding a quiet place and maybe putting on some soft music or imagine you are at the ocean and the waves are crashing on the beach, or wherever your favorite place is.
Enjoy your summer!