V_cation

For many people, everything about these last days of July has screamed “vacation!” It may be the welcome break from a long slog at work. It may be a deep desire to escape the vagaries of a Midwest summer. It may be the fulfillment of a long-planned and much-anticipated journey or visit. In different ways, a lot of us are thinking about, diving into, and relishing vacation. 

 The word, “vacation,” offers an interesting perspective on what we do and why we do it. Deriving from the Latin “vacare,” it essentially means that we empty something when we vacation. Like a house that gets vacated, or a legal order that is vacated, something that was once full is emptied. What might that be? It’s our work. The place of our employment. Or whatever occupies us most of the time. We are usually there, but when we get the chance, we vacate it. We take ourselves away and leave it empty for a time. 

 From that perspective, it really wouldn’t matter what we do while we are away. As long as our usual place of activity is vacant, we can be doing anything. Ironically, that makes the focus of vacation the place of our usual activity, the place where we are not – until the vacation is over. Perhaps that focus is important to our coworkers or our company or those who depend on us day to day throughout the year – that we’re away and that we will be coming back. For us, however, couldn’t something else be the focus? 

 In his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul urged the community: “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2). In biblical terms, renewal is something that comes from God. Israel’s prophets cried out for God’s renewal of the people and urged the people to receive God’s renewal. The gospel writer, Luke, in the book of Acts, recalls that the apostle Peter taught that “times of refreshing come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19). So, the opportunity of renewal is not about simply being absent from something, but about being found and being filled in fresh ways. 

 As we step away from our day-to-day occupations—if we are fortunate enough to be able to do that—it does matter what we choose to do. At least, it matters how we do it. We can “be conformed to this age” and simply vacate, be gone, wait out the time until we must re-occupy our daily posts. Or we can step away with the promise of transformation through renewal—God’s renewal of who we are. More than running away from the grind, it becomes an opportunity to run toward our truest selves. 

 In stepping away that manner, we move out with God’s word in hand and a heart that is attentive to God’s call. We seek out God’s people to help us find our place in the Spirit’s work. We explore ways to equip ourselves to use our gifts in ways that serve “the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.” We open ourselves to the work of the Spirit in us, calling us through our gifts to be as fully ourselves as we can possibly be.  

 There’s another word for God’s call to us—that word is vocation. Over time, it has been broadened in its meaning to be almost equivalent to “job” or “occupation” or “career.” In its Latin root, though, it’s all about who we are called to be.  

 As we have the opportunity to step away this summer, I pray that we can make of it more than just a vacation; I pray that we can find the promised renewal of our vocation as children of God, witnesses to resurrection power, and ministers of grace wherever our days may take us. 

-Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor