It’s for your family. Your family always has to share you. During vacation, your family has a blocked amount of time where they don’t have to share you with the church. When you don’t use all your time that has already been approved by the church for this purpose, you rob your family from having your sole focus to care, fellowship, and enjoy them.
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It’s for your church. How is it that many of our churches have somehow existed and functioned for the last 50 to 100 years without us, yet all of a sudden, we come and develop this complex that our church can now no longer live without us for a week or two? Using all your vacation time forces others to step up in your absence, shows them they can make it without you for a time, and reminds the pastor most of all that God is not utterly dependant on him for this church to function. We are expendable, and we need regular jolts of humility to remind us of that. And vacation time for a pastor is a good tool.
After my excellent week of vacation with my family this past week, I have officially for the first time in more than seven years used my full amount of vacation since I was called as pastor. The reasons offered by my friend proved to be true and fruitful. What have I learned from taking all my vacation time this year? I plan on taking it all next year.
