Holidays!

Well, it's that time of the year again, when my dear wife and I head off on what is referred to, by some of our friends, as our "annual pilgrimage to France"!

The caravan is hitched to the car, and we are just about ready to head off early (!!) tomorrow morning. Of course, we have no regular internet access, so posts may be few and far between over the next six weeks!

Holidays are actually very important. The human body is very finely tuned, and it needs periods of rest and recuperation if it is going to function to its best ability. Mind you, not everyone is blessed with the length of holiday that we get, and we are truly grateful for the opportunity that we have.

Some of the time will be spent (DV) in visiting friends of long standing, but whom we are only able to see occasionally. That's another important aspect of human life. "No man is an island ..." wrote John Donne, and he was absolutely correct. We are, by nature, social creatures who need other people. It is sad that, in an age when many - at least in 'the West' - have more time, money, travel opportunities, private transport, and the like, that so many depend on social websites such as Facebook and Bebo for their friendships! There are some I have seen with hundreds of "friends" - but it seems that many of those "friends" are people whom they have never actually met, and with whom they have no relationship outwith the social networking site.

Of course, the Bible tells us the human beings are created in the image of God - not in any physical way ("God is Spirit" - Jn.4:24) - and we discover that God is relational. He is, in Christian, Biblical theology, Three-in-One, and One-in Three. {For a fuller treatment of the Doctrine of the Trinity, I suggest a visit to my blog at www.revcbross.blogspot.com}. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are in perfect relationship; pefect harmony; perfect unity.

The Bible also teaches us that, having created all that is, God rested (Gen.2:2); and Jesus - God the Son, in human flesh - often drew aside from the crowds to pray, and rest.

I am aware of those who have claimed that "It is better to burn out, than to rust", and would agree that there is an element of truth in that saying. However, I also believe that we need to live balanced lives - providing that we are doing all things to the glory of God.

So, as we head off, I trust that all of my readers will have the opportunity for some rest over the coming weeks - whether at home, or further afield. It's an opportunity to 'recharge the batteries' for the coming winter's work. May each of us be refreshed, renewed, and reinvigorated - and all to His glory.