Tim Eaton

By Pastor Tim Eaton

A vacation sounds so great.  We sometimes feel stressed out, overworked, and underappreciated, and have a need to get away from it all. We may dream of joyful times with friends and family, and the fun and relaxation we will have on vacation.

Hopefully time away delivers on most of those promises.  But a funny thing can happen on vacation.  Maybe it’s too many hours in a car or nights spent in a tent, an unfamiliar hotel, or time with the in-laws.  Any one of these things can make home start to sound better than when we left it.

By the end of a vacation, coming home can often feel even better than getting away.  We miss the little things we didn’t notice before we left: the way fresh sheets smell on our own bed, kids’ favorite toys at the ready, the staples in our fridge and pantry, the peace of sitting in a favorite chair.  Returning to these simple things can make coming home the best part of a vacation.

Coming home to church can give us an even deeper peace.  Maybe something made us want to get away from church.  Maybe we drifted away without really noticing.  But this “vacation” can weary us like any other.  The signs are there – we have spent too much time rushing around, traveling through life without effect, and wishing we could find rest and peace.

If you are weary and burdened, you will find rest in Jesus (Matthew 11:28).  Like the prodigal son, we find our Heavenly Father waiting with open arms for us to return home to Him (Luke 15:20).

Edgewater Lutheran Church meets Sundays at 10 a.m., worshiping at Harada Elementary, 12884 Oakdale Street, Eastvale, CA, 92880;http://www.EdgewaterLutheran.org.