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In
Search of the Spirit
A
monthly letter from the Glenmary Vocation Office
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Summer 2005
Vacation—No Break From Christian Living
By Father Steve Pawelk
Summertime is often associated with vacation time. When we were in school, the first day back at the end of summer always meant writing an essay on "What I did during my summer vacation." Well, for most of us, vacation does not mean a whole summer but a week or two at best. But wherever one goes or whatever one does, it usually involves slowing down and relaxing.
For some, vacation also means attending Mass less often. (I wish this were the case for only a few, but my experience tells me otherwise.) It's as if some among us think that God--and going to Mass--follows the school calendar.
Maybe we were wrongly trained this way, since CCD classes often are scheduled only during the school year. Others, finding themselves on beautiful beaches or in new and exciting places, may be tempted to give in to all the earthly pleasures that are possible. (The old moral language would call these our "appetites.") Probably even more common is the "me-first" theme playing in our heads, thanks to McDonald's, telling us, "You deserve a break today...."
There is no break from Christian living, however. There is never a vacation from being a baptized believer.
Paul writes in Roman 6:4, 12-14:
We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life....
Therefore, sin must not reign over your mortal bodies so that you obey their desires. And do not present the parts of your bodies to sin as weapons for wickedness, but present yourselves to God as raised from the dead to life and the parts of your bodies to God as weapons for righteousness. For sin is not to have any power over you, since you are not under the law but under grace.
Though we may be tempted to leave our morals at home as we take off for vacation, we must not give in to this temptation. Summertime--vacation time--is no excuse to be selfish, to treat others rudely, or try some new but possibly immoral pleasure (like drinking to excess, just this one night). No, every day, including every vacation day, is an opportunity to grow in love and give witness to the wonder of God's love and mercy.
We all do need a break from our routines, our work schedules, our studies, and the pressures and worries of our daily lives. That is what a vacation is for. The challenge, however, is to make vacation time a wonderful Godly time--a time for exploring new ways to serve Jesus.
Jesus "went up to the mountain to pray" (Mk 6:46); he went to weddings (John 2:46ff) and even took time for some fishing (Lk 5:4ff). When I was in Mississippi I knew a family that spend a summer vacation visiting several Glenmary missions and helping Brother Joe Steen on a Habitat house in Pontotoc, Miss. Others have given a part of their vacation every year to volunteer at Camp Glenmary .
Rather than using vacation as a time to pamper some selfish desire, it can be a time to enhance our relationship with God and others in ways that our work or study pace does not normally allow. Just slowing down and hiking in the mountains can be a beautiful way to renew one's relationship with God. And when we slow down, we may gain new awareness of God's call in our life.
Vacation can also be an opportunity to practice some ordinary virtues. When the traffic heading toward the beach is slow or impossible, one can pray for every person in each car to reach his or her destination safely. Or you might leave thank-you notes to those who provide housekeeping or maintenance services at your vacation spot.
You might consider using some vacation to take a trip to explore more deeply the mission work of Glenmary. After all, we are near many beautiful rural areas where the sun can reach you and God can speak to you.
Have a wonderful and Godly vacation.
