We've all seen the bumper stickers, that read, "I'd rather be....” The options include such things as flying. sailing, fishing, etc - you name it, there is probably one out there that reads with that choice. The idea behind this is that the driver of the vehicle in front of you would rather be some other place than they are when you read it - usually caught in traffic somewhere. If I had such a bumper sticker, I think mine would read, "I'd rather be on vacation...” (but not stuck in bumper-to-bumper Friday afternoon traffic in 100 degree heat, like we were this Summer.) That was definitely not my idea of vacation, as we were on our way to New Hampshire to visit my niece. We survived, however, and the vacation proved to be more enjoyable after that point. The modern concept of vacation is a piece of Sabbath time, a gift from God to help us refresh ourselves. (Remember the Sabbath Day, and keep it Holy...) If done on the weekly basis, it provides an opportunity to put aside the everyday routine, catch up with ourselves, renew our relationships with each other and with God. It can go a long way toward preventing burnout and many of the illnesses which afflict modern society. Unfortunately, most of us have difficulty putting aside the daily round, which then comes to feel more like the daily grind, whether we are talking about a weekly break or a yearly vacation... Further, modern society, with its demands to be active, produce results, doesn't make it any easier for us. As one whose job feels like it has morphed from 5Z days/week into 24/7, I am as guilty of this as the next person. We feel like we can't let go of what we are doing, or say no to the boss, or stay out of the loop and give ourselves a real break.

Sabbath time is a way to give yourself a mini-vacation, but it needs to be way to lower the stress level which the daily round gives us. Use of daily prayer time, weekly worship, mini-vacations, and regular vacations are a way to reconnect, if we plan and use them that way. So I invite you to look at your life and what you need to do to find Sabbath time for yourself. Oh, and by the way, I would be very surprised to find a bumper sticker that reads, "I'd rather be praying..."