What I did on my summer vacation.... and why you should, too!

In recent years, I got good at NOT taking vacations.

For a variety of reason.

A desire to support and grow the life of my congregation – the one that called me and trusted me to lead, support and minister.  I didn’t want to go away in or around the time of Christmas or Easter... Pentecost is great (hate to miss it)... September/October, is when things get going and I really want to be around for that... Summer is when people church shop and we really don’t want to shutter the doors and windows, or present a service and community that is at odds with the November community... Speaking of November, Remembrance Day is important (especially for a Trumpet player, like me)... pretty soon, it was easy to find a reason to stick around for pretty much every month, week – even day of the year.   So, I got pretty good at taking long lunches or  a few days here and there, even a week... but never taking 2 weeks or a month.  My contract calls for 7 weeks (including Sundays) off a year...3 for Study Leave; 4 for Vacation and yet I don’t think that I’ve ever taken all of them.

  - I know, great benefits!!  I also get a discount on Clergy Shirts and Jesus Fish; dental coverage for nearly all of my teeth, one orthotic a year (that keeps me hoping); quantity discounts of all Christopher Hitchens’ books (if I want to have a bon fire) and Eternal Life (hey, it’s in the brochure!) –

The other reasons that I haven’t taken advantage of my vacation time is my wife’s work schedule (she loves the car business too much to go away for more than a week... and she works on pure commission)

AND also,  I’m broke. (but I love my kids)

It has been 5 years since I last visited Italy; 5 years since I last visited London; 6 years since France; 7 years since Ireland... and a decade since I last visited Arizona or South America (don’t cry for me, Argentina)

This year, I went to France.

I broke out my rusty language skills..  “Hello, c’est Pitou?”, boarded a plane with wife and headed off for a couple of weeks in Burgundy and Champagne. 

I was out of touch with the church.

I was out of touch with my kids.

I was out of touch with the world...  well, except for Facebook... but you get the idea.

And some things happened:

Romance was in the air.

Wine was imbibed.

Food was consumed.

Vineyard were visited

Cellars were frequented.

Gallic sensibility and language were assaulted.

And I was recreated.

I think that that is the point of recreation, isn’t it? To be re created?

To be fair, I’m not sure that I was recreated as much as I was restored.

In France, in the company of my wife... often with my brothers-in-law (they, too, were on the voyage), and often sitting by myself sipping, tasting or flat out munching... I began to remember who I am.  Without the daily routine and pressures (both of which I regularly invite into my life), I became reacquainted with who I am... not who I’ve become or who others would have me be; or who I would become for others.

Allow me to introduce myself to you (as I did to myself a couple of weeks ago).

I’m Norm.

I know stuff.

I collect wine

I’m not a worrier.

I’m not a warrior, either.  Oh, I’m passionate and committed, but with time and restoration, I can find better ways to achieve my goals than war.

I am gentle.

I am kind.

Stunningly, I am not angry, short tempered or cynical.  Oh, I can take on those roles to be witty; to relieve stress or to keep people at an appropriate distance... but they are tools and not actual facets of my personality.  Tools that are probably better left in the box. In the basement.  At your house and not mine.

I am explosive... but the explosions are of energy and creativity... often sandwiched between great displays of laziness.

I smile a lot.

I love watching people.

I talk to myself unashamedly... and even engage with the Divine without regard for who’s watching... it might be conversation, prayer, bursting into song or even a dance...  but I delight in ways that many find eccentric.

Once I met myself, I bought myself a glass of wine... not wanting to see me drink alone, I ordered a second glass.  And Norm and I talked.   As we talked, I remembered what I like about him and how much I’ve missed me.  I was quite taken with how damn good looking he is... and how witty.  (although I was concerned that he was drinking two glasses of wine simultaneously... one, white; the other, Rosé).

And as I became comfortable in his company once again...I found that all of the things that seemed so important before my vacation... weren’t really all that important. (I can file my taxes anytime!), the imperfect parts of my vacation didn't seem to bother me (I did my mention my brothers-in-law with us, right?)... and, best of all, all sorts of new ideas started popping into my head... my imagination seemed to be reignited and stories started to take shape and flight...

I pass all of this on, because.... well, because I don’t want to forget it.  I don’t want to let my vacation time slip away, ever again.  And I wish for you the same... that you find the time for re-creation, or restoration.  Take some time and get to know yourself... you really are worth knowing.

Oh, and if you can’t seem to find yourself... I can recommend a little place in Beaune, you just might be there... I know that’s where I found me.