Vacations

I admit it, I am not very good at Vacations.  Neither is Anna-Dawn. So much of our lives are governed by the urgent, the list of things that have to, and need to, be done.  We both make lists (mine tend to be more mental, hers are always written down neatly and in order of highest importance).  So now we are on vacation.  This is a two week vacation, and when you suddenly have two weeks of no particular thing to do, it gets a bit daunting. 

Ok, I brought some (well, actually lots) of books to read – truthfully, enough for almost one book a day!  But having a to do list of “read next book” isn’t exactly the outline of a memorable vacation.

Ahhhh, there is the rub.  What exactly is a memorable vacation?  Is it being able to check off the list of the 37 things that we need to do in the 14 days we visit Maui and, if we don’t, are we losers?  Is it being able to say to the people at home, “Oh yes, I did that!”?

Part of the problem for me is that so much of what I credit as life’s value is derived from what I do.  When someone asks me to describe myself, I seldom get far away from describing what I do.  (I am, of course absolutely unique in this area and no one who might happen to read this would have any clue what I am talking about, I am sure!)

The point of Sabbath, and the point of a vacation, I suspect, is that this is a time to recognize that who I am is not really a product of what I do as much as who I am in relationship to others.  This vacation in particular, as it is only Anna-Dawn and me on it, and as we are on it because we are celebrating our 35^th wedding anniversary, the relationship that I am valuing is the relationship with my wife and my God.

I am learning – not very quickly and not without some bumps – that who I am is best described by who I am in relationship to and who I mean something to.  First to God and then, for these two weeks, my wonderful wife.

Who knows, I might even get used to this ‘no to-do list’ kind of life. 

Then again, maybe not. 

(Written looking out over the waves breaking on the beach in Maui)