News from July 2010
What vacation might reveal about our hearts
Posted on July 30, 2010 by Pastor Tom
Vacations are supposed to be fun. The family gets away together to rest and refresh. Yet complaining often accompanies vacations.
Sometimes kids ask that question on everyone’s mind. “Are we there yet?” “No Johnny. See the new Hole’s Greenhouses? That means we’re still in St. Albert.” “Aw, I’m bored. It’s taking so long.” But kids aren’t the only ones to complain. Sometimes adults can complain too.
We recently returned from a cruise to Alaska. My Mom graciously took our entire family for some special times together. We enjoyed the scenery, wildlife and Alaskan people. We enjoyed the ship and some of its many activities. When asked “how was your trip,” I answer “Beautiful, interesting, educational, wavy and somewhat weird.”
Why weird? Well, there were 900 people on the ship who were there to work. These employees of the cruise line looked after our every need. It was wonderful but also a bit strange. When we walked down the hall, they put their backs to the wall to allow us to pass. When I tried to let one of them go before me through a crowded passage, they insisted that I go first. I began to feel like I was a king and they were my servants. I was very uncomfortable with that.
Most of these folks were from different countries. Many come from impoverished homes. They work 14–18 hours/day on the ship. They sign a contract committing themselves to work 7 days a week for 6 months straight. Then they receive 2 months off. They witness loads of food being wasted while people starve in their own communities. I often wondered what they were thinking as they witnessed all of the “kings, queens, princes and princesses” relax and recline.
Sometimes members of the “royal family” complained about their service. Oh, I’m sure some of the complaints are legitimate. But some were ridiculous. I sat beside some folks at the pool. One loudly complained that there were not enough coffee cups at the station he regularly went to. Another complained about the dinners (which I thought were wonderfully done). I felt like saying “you’ve got all this amazing beauty to look; gracious people serving you; food whenever you want it; you even have the means to go on a vacation that most of the world couldn’t dream of and you’re complaining about coffee cups?”
Yet the staff continued on. Whenever I asked how one of them were doing, they responded “Excellent, Wonderful, Great.” I’m sure many of them were. But I wonder if they tire of seeing people who have so much complain about some things so little.
Words out of our mouths can reveal much of what’s in our hearts. Jesus said “Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” If complaints tumble out of our mouths while we’re enjoying the privilege of a vacation, it might be time for a heart check.
Are care free days only possible on vacation?
Posted on July 29, 2010 by Pastor Tom
Okay, I’m back. And I have been back for a while but its been a whirlwind of weeks. We had VBS and then a bunch of other stuff. We enjoyed a superb vacation in Alaska. I will post some thoughts about life on a cruise ship tomorrow. But it was interesting coming back from vacation mode to semi-regular life mode.
On vacation, one goal is to get away from the cares of home/work. So we go away and put up with the “cares” of travel (flight cancellations; going through security; motion sickness; cold and rainy days;) to find those care free moments or days on vacation. Then we come home and head back into life hopefully refreshed. But we know about the cares and the situations and the stresses. So do we just hope our cares don’t overwhelm us until we get to another “care free” vacation? Or is care free living possible at home?
I’m reading the book “Humilty” by C. J. Mahaney. He talks about practices that help us go into the day with humility and dependence on God. One practice is to “cast all our cares upon the Lord.” He bases this on 1 Peter 5:6–7 – “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God casting all your anxieties (cares) on him, because he cares for you.”
In other words, instead of trying to rush into a day bearing all our cares ourselves and trusting only ourselves to figure it out or work it out, humble ourselves before the mighty God. Admit, we aren’t equipped to “handle” everything on our minds perfectly. But God is. So admit that then cast the anxiety on the Lord. “Lord, this burdens me today. I don’t know how it will work out. But you do. So I give it to you and know you’ll walk with me through it. But until then, will you carry this for me so I’m not heavily weighed down by this care?”
Then Mahaney writes “When we humble ourselves each morning by casting all our cares on the Lord, we will start the day free of care.” We’re not free of responsibility but we can be care free. Then we keep doing that through the day with whatever care might come along.
Then care free days are possible anywhere. Hope you have a care free August whether on vacation or at home.