Weather permitting, summer has finally arrived and the vacation season is about to begin - at last! From the time of the ancient Israelites, the Christian faith tradition has viewed rest as a holy obligation. Even God the Word rested from creating on the seventh day! The fourth commandment tells us to rest - to set aside any work in order to rest and to enjoy our special relationship with God. That is what the Sabbath is for. God delivers Israel from Egypt because humans are not born to be drudges or worker-slaves. God later delivers the Jews from Babylon for exactly the same reason. We are human beings - not human doings! You and I were made for more than just working! We were born to have abundant life and to enjoy communion with God.

Our resting at God's command does not benefit God. Rest benefits us. Our seven day calendar is organized on this principle of Sabbath-rest (Saturday, the 7th day) - for a time of community with the loving God in whose image we are created.

This begs some questions. Does it defile the 'image of God' to measure our own worth or the worth of someone else in terms of work? Or money? Or property? Or lifestyle? Does it defile the 'image of God' to become a waged rudge who has no time for family and friends? For companionship or for community with God? Should we resist this? Is the deathbed the only place where a person finally gets around to thinking about God, or about the meaning of life, or about destiny, or about one's own personal spiritual journey? Or is the deathbed really too late for any of that?

Once again, summer is beginning and holiday time is approaching. Holidays were originally 'holy days' - times when everyone slowed down, stopped working and took time to think about life and life's meaning, about evidence of God's abundance in "my own life:, about "my own" personal spiritual journey and about my relationship to God. Disciples of Jesus (and perhaps all who value spirituality) are called to renewal, to stop being "heavy laden" and to accept rest as an obedient response to God's will and God's gift of abundant life.

One good use of Sabbath time is to explore what it means to be a Christian or a person of faith. Here are some thoughts about doing that:

Honour your Sabbath holy obligation by spending more (not less) time at church or synagogue or temple or mosque.

When you are away from home, worship with a local faith community wherever you are and experience the diversity and the unity that are the great strengths of our human family.

Read a book that will enhance your understanding of spiritually and faith - religious history or theology or spirituality.

Join a study group or organize friends and neighbours into a summer Study cell and get some resources from your local pastor or spiritual leader.

At a recent dinner, retired Anglican Bishop Ann Tottenham of Toronto spoke about the pressing need for Christians to gain more knowledge about the Christian faith of the Apostles.

She suggested out that the opposite of "knowledge" is "fantasy" -- not lack of knowledge or unknowing. Christians have an enlightened faith and hope for eternal life in Christ not wishful fantasy.

May God bless you and grant you a restful holiday season of growth in faith.

The Reverend John Lockyer is priest in charge of St. John's Anglican Church, Hwy. 9, Caledon