I heard recently on a Christian radio station somebody talking about turning a vacation into a pilgrimage or a sabbath time, an opportunity to get closer to God. The speaker said that there is no word in ancient languages equivalent to the word "vacation". While I don't think that's true (the word has it's origins in the Latin), I would agree if she had said that ancient people probably did not generally have time for vacationing since they were often more preocuppied with daily survival. The closest these people may have ever gotten to a vacation could have been a religious pilgrimage.
One dictionary definition of a pilgrimage is "A long journey or search, especially one of exalted purpose or moral significance." So, a religious pilgrimage is generally a long, arduous journey. Hardly the kind of liesure modern people tend to seek when vacationing.
And yet some people may feel the same way about camping and backpacking. These activities can be hard work, and even with the best camping gear, you would probably sleep better in the comfort of your own bed at home.
Also, I must say that my memory of our family vacations as a child are of spending many hours locked in a car on our way to someplace like the Grand Canyon. These trips certainly seemed long and arduous to me.
So, if we go with this theme of a vaction being like a pilgrimage, what could the exalted purpose be?
A Chinese friend of mine recently observed that in America we have a balanced government, but we are not balanced in our personal lives. He said this is the exact opposite of China. This is an interesting observation. The Chinese place great importance on this concept of balance, or "yin and yang". Who could disagree that in our industrialized society there is far too much emphasis on money, career, advancement, success; and not enough attention paid to our relationships with our family and friends, with God, and with nature?
Any vacation can be a start at restoring that balance which has been lost. Vacationing outdoors may have a particular advantage in that it takes us completely out of that environment which has caused us to lose balance. Especially when we leave the radios and electronic games at home, we are forced to actually hold conversations with others and at times left with nothing but our own thoughts as company.
At first, many people are not comfortable with silence. We are accustomed to constant external stimulation. Without it, we feel lost. However, when we allow ourselves to slow down and just live in the moment, we realize that we don't need those outside intrusions.
After returning from a camping vacation, hopefully we will feel refreshed, we will have a better appreciation for our modern conveniences, we will have made some good memories, we will have strengthened relationships, and we will have brought our life a little more into balance. Sounds like an exalted purpose to me.
The author, Greg Bonney, is the owner of Bonney Information and E-Commerce and founder of Scoutcamping.com (http://www.scoutcamping.com).
Copyright ? 2005 Bonney Information and E-Commerce.
Wood Dale Chicago prom limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareBack in 1992, Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise co-starred in... Read More
Picture this state of existence in your mind by closing... Read More
1. Identify a woman who is "like minded," who has... Read More
Some may ask, is there any truth to have a... Read More
Existence of God: facts and figures Does God exist?If you... Read More
During my childhood days, I disliked Lenten season because radio... Read More
Did you ever see something go wrong around you and... Read More
To find out how psychic you are, try answering the... Read More
Some men see things as they are and say, "Why?"... Read More
For the past several years I have struggled with getting... Read More
God said, "Thou shalt not?" and we continue to tell... Read More
I have been thinking about this all night. I am... Read More
Some may ask what is the true will of God... Read More
I love rivers. I have for many years lived away... Read More
Have you ever heard something that really "resonated" with you?... Read More
The passenger had to be carried onto the plane and... Read More
It happens to us all from time to time, especially... Read More
Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the... Read More
At any given moment, there are 'things' occurring within the... Read More
"Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Caught... Read More
The following article is an exploration of the Spring holiday... Read More
The still place is the beginning. Settle in there, ask... Read More
About a month ago I opened up my bible in... Read More
ADDICTION: - There are numerous obsessions and addictions which prevent... Read More
Back in the days of the old law of Moses,... Read More
Antigo wedding limo ..The truth revealed as we read about Hazael also reminds... Read More
The Emmaus Journal What is Wrong With Being Common? This... Read More
I can't boast about my culinary skill, because I just... Read More
Dreams take us not into ourselves, but out of ourselves.... Read More
Years ago no matter where I lived, whether a house... Read More
John Eldredge writes in his book Waking the Dead, "God... Read More
All of my life I had heard, read and sang... Read More
Spiritual growth is the process of inner awakening, and becoming... Read More
Does God care if I marry a gentile?Even as I... Read More
God !"My son will be brought up in a place... Read More
One of the saddest times in any child's life is... Read More
THE KABBALAH OF PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION: TURNING DARKNESS INTO LIGHT"In the... Read More
Looking for some ways to feed your soul in the... Read More
"It's a big challenge. It's a journey into the unknown.... Read More
"What does it profit a man to have gained the... Read More
The question, "Is God Dead?", first entered my consciousness when... Read More
In earlier articles entitled "We Are Not Our Personalities", "Eliminating... Read More
Excerpt from The Journey That Never Was: a guide to... Read More
1. Raphael means "God heals." Raphael heals physical, emotional and... Read More
When we feel that something has gone wrong and are... Read More
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken... Read More
An act of selflessness is the highest expression of selfishness... Read More
God rides a Harley, God drives truck, God is a... Read More
In the golfing world, yesterday may have been one of... Read More
Talked to an interesting person today at a coffee shop,... Read More
Spirituality |