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I was determined that my spring break this year was going to blow all the other ones I have had out of the water. Let’s face it, all my spring breaks in the past have consisted of going home to work, so ANYTHING would beat that right?
Plans failed, and failed attempt after attempt. I was bitter and disappointed. Then, an opportunity! A last minute and very spontaneous one, the kind that actually feeds my soul more than ones that are planned out completely. My sister had a trip planned to San Diego, CA because of work related reasons, the same week as my spring break. Once I found out, I jokingly asked if I could tag along. Well, I took that joke to a new level and made it a reality- I was going to San Diego for spring break! With my sister! Hotel paid for! It was going to be amazing! I had never been to CA before so this obviously was going to be a great experience.
I was packing light so that I could fit everything in to this carry-on sized bag so that I did not have to pay a fee for checking a bag. Please, my flight already cost an arm and a leg, that airline did not need my money for extra bags. At school, I’m currently in 3 book studies with 3 different groups of people and I was supposed to be keeping up with readings over break. I decided I could take one of those books, along with my bible, and my journal. But I couldn’t. It just wouldn’t fit with all the clothes, shoes, make-up, etc. that I wanted to bring along with me. So I took out some of those clothes, a pair of shoes, and my bible. I didn’t really need my bible to do the book study, because the book had scripture, prayer, etc. right? Wrong. If anything, I should’ve put the book and my journal back and kept the bible because that is what I found myself wanting the most while I was away. Sure, I read my book and wrote in my journal the first couple days, but after that, my mind was on vacation from not only school, but my life. VA and its problems were clear across the country and I was determined to have a good time.
Well I no doubt had a good time. But as the week was ending, I realized that I hadn’t read out of my book or wrote in my journal since the beginning of the week. Now, my vacation is over, I am back in VA, and am feeling in a funk. Not only did I take a vacation from my life in VA, I took a vacation from God. I thought that I could provide for my own happiness while on vacation by spending money on all the food, drinks, clothes, and souvenirs that would fit in my luggage home. But I should have packed my bible, and I should have invited God to hang out with me on my vacation more so that I could truly find peace and happiness from my troubles.
We can’t just take a break from God. Now, God was certainly with me that whole time- he never leaves us- I just chose not to acknowledge Him the whole time. As Christians, we are called to acknowledge Him and praise Him in everything that we do, including going on vacations.
1 Chronicles 28:9 (NIV) states, “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.”
Like Solomon, we have been chosen as Christians to follow Christ and to seek him wholeheartedly. If you seek Christ with your whole heart, you are doing so day in and day out no matter where you are or what the circumstance. This is tough, but we can do it. And when we do, the reward is eternal.
So, my challenge to you is this:
Next time you go on a vacation of any kind, continue to seek God wholeheartedly.
He will already be there, but it is up to your heart’s desire to find Him.
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