I began thinking about the question “is vacationing biblical?”
Hold up, before you start telling me about the Bible tells us to rest, I’m well aware that we are to rest on the sabbath (7th day). But I wanted to dig into that a little more. So I read a few articles in a few different peoples perspectives and I opened my Bible too! But then I started to shift into “why do you/I vacation?” Think about that question, I’ll talk about that more later. I completely understand that we should rest, and I couldn’t agree with that anymore. But when did we begin the “I deserve it!” attitude? You need a break from your ordinary life?
I have a lot more to say about all this.
I read an article from a woman who doesn’t like to vacation and didn’t really enjoy it when she was young either. I can imagine that you are saying “what is wrong with her” right now because you think it’s crazy talk. She began to explain that as a child she remembers always feeling very exhausted after a trip, and not rested. Helloooo!! The question arises again “why do you/I vacation?” I personally don’t vacation for long, typically 2 nights & usually about once a year. But I’ve heard so many people, friends, family, strangers say after their vacation... “I need a vacation after that vacation!” Did you chuckle? Come on, we’ve all heard/said it once before!
Ok, now you are probably saying NO that’s not the only reason I vacation! I vacation because I want time away, or how bout “I NEED time away!” (Insert eye roll) Wait! Or maybe you vacation to experience other cultures? Eat new food?
Well have you tried the new restaurant 15-20 mins from your house? Have you eaten everything on the menu at the restaurant you’ve been to 8 times? Have you stepped out to try a Chinese or Greek restaurant in the area that you’ve never been to?
I was then challenged by a comment by a man on another article that I read who simply put that he doesn’t go on vacation because he’s created an everyday life he loves. A life that he doesn’t dread, a life where he soaks up the experiences and people in his life that are new everyday. The cashiers, the farmers, the bank tellers, and people walking down the street that he CHOOSES to engage with. He tries new foods at local restaurants he’s already been to, or tries the new restaurant that just opened 2 blocks away! Is it wrong to not vacation, I’d definitely say NO! Perhaps finding contentment in the place you are now is what we should try a little more instead of running away from our everyday lives and try making our ordinary life a little more extraordinary right where we are so that we aren’t hoping to always get away!
