We are expendable and we need regular jolts of humility to remind us of that.
As a result, for the last four years I have used my full year of vacation given to me by the church since I was called as pastor. The reasons above that my friend confronted me with all showed to be true and fruitful in those ways as I did so. What have I learned from taking all my vacation time these last few years … well, I plan on taking it all next year. I am on vacation the next two weeks trying to practice what I preach (… write).
If you are a pastor, do what you can to use it all this year. There is still half the summer left. If you are not a pastor, do all you can to encourage your pastor to take it. You, your church and your pastor will experience multiple layers of benefit because of it.
