My wife and I just returned from a wonderful vacation. We were blessed to spend time with our extended family at the lake down in Alabama where my two sisters live. All in all, it was wonderful just to get away and relax. The food, the fun, and the fellowship were all a welcome respite from the routine of daily life.
I especially enjoyed being out in nature. There were a few showers, to be sure; but the Lord still provided us with plenty of sunshine. In addition, the lake itself was as full as I can ever remember it being. In fact, it was literally overflowing. The two foot high seawall on their property is composed of stacked crossties; and the water was literally up and over the edge of the wall.
This is unusual for this time of year. Normally, by the week after the Fourth of July holiday, the water level has begun to go down noticeably all across the lake. But there has been so much rain this summer that the water is being replenished in the lake faster than it is being released over the spillways at the dam. The result is a lake that is full to the brim, which certainly made for a bunch of happy vacationers over the past week.
I have reflected upon all of this and have come to see it as a picture of the purpose that a good vacation serves for the average person. Each day, little by little, the water is drained off of any large lake. This happens through both evaporation and through drainage, as dams draw off water to make electricity.
It is important, therefore, that water come into the lake as well, primarily through rain falling on the site of the lake itself or else through the flow of rivers and streams from rain that has fallen at places upstream from the lake.
Our personal and professional lives work much the same way. To be successful at what we are called to do, our jobs and professions require us to put forth a reasonable amount of effort to be successful. And even without the stresses of employment, we all know that the simple living of life itself can be quite draining.
The point is that we all naturally use up energy and resources as we live out our daily lives. And eventually, this all requires some sort of replenishment. If not, we soon deplete ourselves.
For these reasons, I am thankful for the last few days and the opportunity God provided me to get away, clear my head, and refill myself - body, soul, and spirit. I understand why the Psalmist (see for example, Psalm 66:13) repeatedly speaks of the Lord’s ability to replenish our lives!
After unpacking this afternoon, I ran my truck through the local car wash to clean off the bugs and road spray. I then stopped by the gas station to top off the gas tank. It now sits in my driveway ready to roll! The same can pretty much be said of me. And believe me, it’s a good feeling.
I now eagerly look forward to returning to the activities and engagements of daily life.
I especially enjoyed being out in nature. There were a few showers, to be sure; but the Lord still provided us with plenty of sunshine. In addition, the lake itself was as full as I can ever remember it being. In fact, it was literally overflowing. The two foot high seawall on their property is composed of stacked crossties; and the water was literally up and over the edge of the wall.
This is unusual for this time of year. Normally, by the week after the Fourth of July holiday, the water level has begun to go down noticeably all across the lake. But there has been so much rain this summer that the water is being replenished in the lake faster than it is being released over the spillways at the dam. The result is a lake that is full to the brim, which certainly made for a bunch of happy vacationers over the past week.
I have reflected upon all of this and have come to see it as a picture of the purpose that a good vacation serves for the average person. Each day, little by little, the water is drained off of any large lake. This happens through both evaporation and through drainage, as dams draw off water to make electricity.
It is important, therefore, that water come into the lake as well, primarily through rain falling on the site of the lake itself or else through the flow of rivers and streams from rain that has fallen at places upstream from the lake.
Our personal and professional lives work much the same way. To be successful at what we are called to do, our jobs and professions require us to put forth a reasonable amount of effort to be successful. And even without the stresses of employment, we all know that the simple living of life itself can be quite draining.
The point is that we all naturally use up energy and resources as we live out our daily lives. And eventually, this all requires some sort of replenishment. If not, we soon deplete ourselves.
For these reasons, I am thankful for the last few days and the opportunity God provided me to get away, clear my head, and refill myself - body, soul, and spirit. I understand why the Psalmist (see for example, Psalm 66:13) repeatedly speaks of the Lord’s ability to replenish our lives!
After unpacking this afternoon, I ran my truck through the local car wash to clean off the bugs and road spray. I then stopped by the gas station to top off the gas tank. It now sits in my driveway ready to roll! The same can pretty much be said of me. And believe me, it’s a good feeling.
I now eagerly look forward to returning to the activities and engagements of daily life.