Had a vacation lately? Take a few days

Another couple, friends of ours, were already settled in to the cabin next door and were there to greet us. My friend and I hiked part of the famous Appalachian Trail the next day, then took in some amazing waterfalls, while our wives went shopping in a mountain town nearby.

Sometimes it just seems impossible to break away, even for only a few days, to recharge our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual batteries…but we should. We need to. Secular writers, as well as Bible examples, endorse taking a break now and then.

In his book Inside The Third Reich, Albert Speer, Germany's wartime Minister of Armaments and War Production, even describes how, after a string of brilliant diplomatic and military successes, Hitler began to make stupid blunders which helped lead to Germany's losing the war. According to Speer, Hitler at first took vacations and long hikes with groups of his friends in the Bavarian mountains, but stopped taking vacations and therefore soon became progressively more and more stupid, irritable, and out of touch with reality! One more reason not to follow Hitler's example!

On the other hand, Winston Churchill used to spend time at his country homes, Chequers and Chartwell, and, when possible, spent time in the south of France. Painting pictures was his hobby while on vacation. President Harry S. Truman vacationed at America's southern-most point, Key West, Florida. President Eisenhower's vacation time was spent at what had previously been Franklin Roosevelt's favorite retreat on a mountain in Maryland, now known as Camp David. Other leaders have followed these examples. They all realized that a change of pace is essential to maintaining a sound outlook.

In the Bible is an account of even Jesus taking a few days to get away from the constant crowds. He went to the coast near Tyre and Sidon, a Gentile area which was outside of Judea. "And He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden" (Mark 7:24). When a non-Jewish woman recognized Jesus and implored Him to cast a demon out from her daughter, He at first refused, saying: 'I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel'" (Matthew 15:24). Obviously Jesus had need of a refreshing break from His everyday routine.

As His custom was, Christ also got away to Jerusalem to attend Passover and religious Holy Days, including the annual eight day "Feast of Tabernacles," a festive occasion which God enjoined for all time on all of God's people, "then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, 'Where is He?' … Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught" (John 7:10-11, 14).

Of course, Paul, apostle to the Gentiles, followed Christ in religiously keeping these Holy Days: "When they asked him to stay a longer time with them, he did not consent, but took leave of them, saying, 'I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing.' And he sailed from Ephesus" (Acts 18:20-21).

Yes, it is essential to take a break from time to time from our daily routine. Clear the cobwebs from your mind. Do something different! Take a vacation! And above all, find out more about Jesus' and Paul's example of attending the Biblical Holy Days of God. These great Christians left us an example we should be following. Order or read online our fascinating booklet The Holy Days—God's Master Plan.

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