I am what is known in Tenerife as a ‘guiri’ the plural of which is used in South
America ‘gringo’! It’s the name they give tourists, especially loud British ones!
Hopefully I’m not too intrusive when I go there, but we certainly are regular tourists
due to the family connections we have there and so we visit quite regularly.
While the guiri’s might get on the locals nerves at times (it was similar growing up in York when the tourists blocked the pavements taking photos!) they are now of course essential to the economy for many parts of Europe.
I was really shocked earlier in the summer to see the photos and footage of the forest fires and the impact on tourists, trying to relax and enjoy the sun.
I continue to pray for the people of Rhodes and in Hawaii who will be trying to rebuild their hotels and welcome tourists while still in shock at what it means for their own lives.
It’s also really scary that the summers where we can flock to hot beaches might be coming to an end, if this is really due to global ‘boiling’ and not a one off occurrence.
But whether you are a sun worshipper or prefer a walk in the Scottish highlands,
holidays are really important and with the cost of living going up so fast, they are also becoming a luxury for many families.
Rest and a complete break, are crucial for us to continue functioning properly. Like many electronic gadgets, we all sometimes need to be switched on and off again! (Advice made famous by the IT Crowd of course!)
I wonder if you know the 10 commandments? They are pretty comprehensive, and include the more obvious ones of not killing, lying, stealing and being envious of your
neighbours possessions (including his wife).
Higher up on the list is one we might often forget, but it’s to respect the Sabbath. To observe it and keep it holy. For many of us who are Christians this involves keeping some time apart every day, to pray, to create space to reflect and to read scripture. It also involves resting at least one day a week, and taking a good break once a year at least.
In Judaism some groups really take this seriously and don’t allow any kind of activities on the Sabbath, but in Christianity it used to simply mean the shops were shut, work
stopped, and people had time to go to church. While Christians continue this
tradition, it’s hard for everyone to down tools on the same day, at the same time of the week, when so many people work such long hours.
However your spirituality works I would suggest you cannot have too much sabbath!
We sometimes think that the more we do, the more we contribute in this world the
more brownie points we will receive. Certainly we all know that working hard can
bring amazing things into our lives. With God though it works differently. He delights in
just spending time with us, and hanging out together. He is not worried about what
we talk about, he just enjoys our company. When we miss out on time spent in this relationship, it can be all too easy to forget that he loves us, cherishes us, and wants us to be the best of ourselves we can be in the busy world we live in.
So for me, I find that reading a book in the shade while my family are in the pool, is
my idyllic happy place. For you it might be running or climbing mountains, playing
tennis, caring for animals or just spending time with family and friends. But however
you relax and rest, remember that this is at the top of the list for God, there is no guilt
to be had. It’s as important as not murdering anyone!
Even though it’s sometimes hard to achieve, when we manage to keep our rest Holy and dedicate it to God, then it also becomes something really special that can give us life and hope and energy to face the challenges of the week ahead. So I pray that for all of us we manage to carve out a little sabbath this summer and in the months ahead too. Why not try this prayer next time you are having fun with family and friends
‘Lord I dedicate my rest and play to you. Help me to honour you in all I do, and to
love and laugh and share my life with others. Give me the confidence to take time to
rest, and guide me towards your priorities, in how I use my time and energy. Amen
inspiredinyork 