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Dear friends,
The holiday season is here again. Children will be home from school, holiday club will be swinging into action, some of our young people will be off to 'Soul Survivor'. Many of us will be heading somewhere a bit quieter than, or just different from, Luton.
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What we look for from holidays varies from person to person - new friends, a sun tan, fun, adventure, peace and quiet, beautiful scenery, something different for the children to do, a break from cooking.... But most of us will share the ambition to relax.
Like Christmas, summer holidays can be great, but they can also be disappionting. It doesn't do to expect TOO much from them. As far as relaxation is concerned, it's worth remembering that only so much can be achieved by a change of circumstances and scenery.
Jesus' Good News promises peace: 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.'
It has to be admitted that Christians do not always seem to be more relaxed than others. Sometimes we seem more stressed! Perhaps this is because our Christianity becomes a long list of duties to be fulfilled. We lose sight of the essence of the Christian faith, which is knowing that God loves and accepts us as we are.
The Christian's efforts to 'become a better person' should be inspired by the joy of knowing we are accepted, not by a sense of stark obligation and guilt. Too often we assume that we will only be accepted if our efforts are good enough. God loves us; Jesus Christ, through his perfect life and sin bearing death has done everything necessary to bring us peace with God. On that basis, God asks us to 'believe' not 'achieve'.
If we would take away on holiday the knowledge that we are loved, accepted and forgiven, we would more easily find the relaxation we crave. If we would bring it back with us from holiday, our inner wellbeing would last long after the suntan has faded away. And those who have to live with us would fel the benefit too!
Happy Holidays!
Mike
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