This afternoon we are heading out on our post-Easter vacation. It is a little later than normal, but seeing that Easter was so early this year, we decided to wait. For us, this is one of the more important vacations that we take every year. After Lent and Easter, with all the services and planning that goes into those celebrations, this time of renewal is much needed. It is easy to get burned out with everything we do in daily life, and time away is very necessary to recharge the batteries and get ready for what comes next.
Whenever I get ready to take a break, such as this one, I am reminded at how brilliant God is. In creating the Sabbath, a day of rest, God shows how well he knows us. He knows that we are a busy people, that we have tons of activities to run to, meetings to attend, work to do. So he was intentional about creating the Sabbath - a day of rest and renewal. This is a time when we are to take a break from the daily grind and recharge for what comes next. It is a time designed to reflect on what God has blessed us with and spend time resting in God's wonderful arms of mercy and grace.
But so many of us, myself included, get tied up in the work of the day that we do not always take this Sabbath time. We keep running, meeting, working and run out of energy. In the process, we forget what a joy life really is because we are too busy to see the gifts that God has shared with us.
So we are called to rest - to rest from our daily work, rest from the hectic nature of life, rest and recharge - celebrating God's love for us and our love for others. Who knew that one of the callings we are given as disiciples is the calling to rest?
As I have time over the next week I will update how things are going on our vacation. I know that my family will be running in the sand, building sandcastles, and enjoying the bright sun. And I am sure I will find a coffee shop somewhere where I can log-on and let you know how things are. I also pray that you will find ways to honor the Sabbath and get the rest you need that will inspire you in your daily lives.
