Vacation; what a restful word. But isn't it odd that the very same word triggers different anticipations in each of us? The professional driver looks forward to being a home body for the duration of his time off work. The stay at home mom likely thinks happily ahead to long days on the road going somewhere, anywhere other than "here".

The truth is, God has built into the apex of creation a strong need for rest. Doing without sleep is harmful to us beyond what we yet comprehend. Working seven days a week without time off for rest will burn any person out in a hurry.

And rest doesn't necessarily always mean a total lack of activity. Once in a while we just need to spend time doing something other than what we do each day of our lives. Even God in His wisdom rested after the frenetic six days of creation. "And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy...", says the book of Genesis. We don't know exactly what He did on that seventh day, just that He did not continue with the project in which He had been involved. He rested.

If God took time out to rest, shouldn't we? The writer feels that God rested more to set an example for us than to catch up on His own weariness.

With the convoluted and hectic schedules most of us keep, it is important that we deliberately take time to rest. Sunday should be a sacred time for us to worship and spend quality time with family. This allows recuperation from whatever our week held. Similarly, it is necessary now and then to take some time off away from the pressures of the every day world for vacation. Maybe this is the year for a "stay-cation". Perhaps the family budget has no room for a long trip to any of the incredibly expensive popular vacation destinations. But with enough planning there are many things close to home that can be wonderful day trips with loved ones.

Enjoy your work but take time off for rest.

See you Sunday!

Pastor Richard Orrell