As I pursue the whole idea of Industrial Strength Rest or Radical Sabbatical I continue to examine and explore the four rhythms of rest: sleep, Sabbath, stillness (personal retreat) and solitude (personal retreat). They are all going to be a part of this equation of restoration.
But, there’s one more I’d like to add.
Vacation.
Vacation might possibly have its roots set in the Jewish celebration known as the Feast of Tabernacles given to Moses on Mount Sinai. After giving of the Ten Commandments, God tells Moses in Exodus 21:1, “These are the laws you are to set before them.” Then, over the next ten chapters God share the specifics of how he wants his people to live. In Exodus 23:16b we read, “…Celebrate the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather your crops in from the field.” A short study of the Feast of Tabernacles (also known as the Feast of Booths or the Feast of Ingathering) reveals of truckload of treasures.
We’re going to start in Leviticus 23:33-44.
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Vacation requires a chunk of time. Leviticus 23:34 shines a light on seven days.
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Vacation invites us into a season of celebration (Lev. 23:39).
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Vacation is founded and framed by praise and gratitude (Lev. 23:40).
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Vacation is a gift for all generations (Lev. 23:41).
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Vacation invites us to do something out of the ordinary. For the Hebrew nation that meant sleeping out in booths or tents all week (23:42). Deuteronomy 16:15 encourages us to go where God leads.
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Vacation is a time to remember God’s deliverance and the freedom that results (Lev. 23:43).
Are you making vacation plans? Peek into Deuteronomy 16:13-15. Your heart will soar. Your joy will be complete. (That’s no small promise.)
Jesus puts the icing on the cake in John 7.
On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If a man is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” John 7:37-38.
What if the idea of vacation is not about “taking time away” but “giving time to God” in the midst of our fun, fellowship, rest and adventure?
My family is hoping to go on vacation next week.
I will be packing a bucket.
Is This Your First Time Here?
Welcome!
Run hard. Rest well. launched in March 2013. If this topic grabs your heart, we’d like to encourage you to subscribe to this weekly blog. The information to do so is located on the right hand side of this page. Along the way, we’ve encouraged folks to read the first 12-weeks of posts found in the archives. (But no rush. Go slow.) Start with Week 1 (from March). Each post is numbered and lays an important foundational insight into the life-giving rhythm Run hard. Rest well.
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run hard. rest well.
Brenda
Love it! It’s all attitude. Imagine living in tents for a week? Not MY idea of fun. But no dishes, no beds to make, no sweeting or mopping, no ironing…..just time to celebrate. I fill vacations so full of doing that I’m exhausted. Imagine filling vacation with celebration. No agenda. No worries. Celebrate Jesus. Now that’s a vacation!
Betty,
Celebration here I come!
Counting the days.
Brenda