Tuesday, July 13, 2010

The return

I have been on vacation this past week...and as always I have wondered about what it means to return to what is so flippantly called: The same old grind.

Many of us will be going on vacation during the next few months. Many calls will be made only to be put into this or that voicemail box with the blanket greeting: I will be away until August 1...leave a message or contact the office if your concern is urgent.... or the e-mails will generate auto responses in the vacation mode.

The point is, these months are vacation months....

My question is: will we return as newly created people who face our routine with a fresh perspective?

If so, then it won't be the same old grind.

The same old grind requires all parties to be unchanged......

And if you embrace the gifts of refreshment...and renewal...and different perspective.... you will re-enter your familiar routine as a changed person. Therefore, as you respond to others from the fresh place given by "vacation", you will find yourself in a different place even though it is familiar.

My prayer for all vacationers.... is for safe journey (of course)... and for a week, or two or three where you experience moments saturated with God's love and the grace that is given so lavishly to you. My prayer is that your return is to a place that will be affected first and foremost by the peace and rest provided to you on vacation... and that you will move foreward from that and resist the tendency to let the "old place" suck you back into thoughts and attitudes and behavior of the past. Please.... avoid the tendency to wake up five days from your return saying: It feels like the vacation never even happened!!!!!!

Peace be with you... from one who has just returned!

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