Great to be back

Joanna and I enjoyed a strange vacation this year. 

For starters, we didn't know where we were going until a couple of days before we left. Two weeks ago, Hurricane Ike thrashed Cuba while the rest of the world watched to see where it would go next. Our vacation Plan A was to head for Destin, Fla., on the Gulf Coast. But if Ike swung that far east, Plan B was to turn toward the Colorado mountains. We waited and waited. And then we waited some more.

Finally, Ike set his course, and we felt cleared to head to the coast.

A major reason Destin topped the Rockies was because we hoped to meet our oldest daughter, Lindsay, and her husband, Aaron, there for the weekend. They live in Orlando, within driving distance of our destination. Since we only see them a couple times a year, a long weekend at one of our favorite places seemed like a tremendous plan. Unfortunately, Aaron's grandmother died, and so Lindsay and Aaron flew to the funeral in Texas while we were in Florida.

So, for the first time in—well—forever, Jo and I went on a Florida vacation without either of our children. Molly's back in Waco for her senior year at Baylor University, so we knew she couldn't tag along.

We missed the girls, but not enough to ruin our time at the beach. Especially our first-ever vacation after Labor Day. The beach wasn't crowded. The roads were wide open. And we never waited for a table in a restaurant. All that, and perfect weather. What's not to love?

Our trip turned out to be a spiritual retreat of sorts. Jo and I both read The Shack by William P. Young. Basically, it's an extended metaphor for a spiritually wounded person's encounter with God. Some reviewers have focused on the fine points of theology. We focused on the overall message. And that prompted many long, wonderful talks about God, faith, hope, providence, prayer and the arc of God's action in our own lives. 

Talking with the love of your life about the Love of your lives is a blessing beyond measure. We were refreshed, encouraged and renewed.

We also bobbed in the surf, got plenty of sleep and ate great food. 

But all vacations come to an end, and we drove 736 miles back home in time to do chores around the house, wash clothes and go to church on Sunday.

This morning, the alarm rang at 5:20. Instantly, I rememberd my least-favorite thing about work. Getting out of bed at 5:20.

But a little while later, I walked in the front door of the Baptist Standard building, and I thanked God for work. Sure, I'd like to lollygag on the beach longer and more often. But I'm grateful for the blessing of work—purposeful, meaningful, intriguing work. 

To me, work is a form of worship. God gives us gifts and allows us to exercise them. Whatever we do, if we do it to the glory of God out of grateful hearts, it is worship.

So, it was great to go on vacation. And great to be back.