Another public holiday is coming up for the city on Tuesday, which can only mean one thing… It’s another one of those “take-one-day-off, get-four-days-off” kinda weekends. Hong Kong people are real pros when it comes to travelling and making the most of holidays – and I get it. The working culture here is stressful. Time is valuable. Rest is rare. So of course, you need to make the most of it whenever you can.
What’s at the top of your list when it comes to planning holidays? Is it the destination? The food? The activities? The company (or maybe going solo and getting some me time)?
As I get older, I have the privilege to travel to many different places. The more I travel, the more I value the company over the destination. I don’t need to have a packed itinerary, and it’s okay if we don’t “see all the sights”. I just want to enjoy some down time with people I care about and enjoy fellowship together. If we get to do that in a pretty place while doing something fun, then great! That’s a bonus.
Good relationships provide rest for the soul
Good relationships provide rest for the soul. That’s why for my holiday this summer, I deliberately chose two rather mundane and un-exotic destinations (I won’t name them so as not to offend anyone!) so I can still get away but focus on enjoying time and meaningful conversations with friends.
What is the closest relationship in your life? Or in other words, if you had to choose, who would be the one person that you could absolutely not live without? As Christians, I don’t think it’s a very hard question to answer. Our creator God and heavenly Father is the being from whom we can find the greatest rest for our souls.
The Psalmist would agree, “Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you” (116:7). Jesus himself confirms that we should “come to [him]… and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).
Recently, I have been spending a lot of time reading the book of Exodus and it’s been a joy to spend so much time going through the details of how the Tabernacle was to be built. It was so much work, but all the effort would be worth it because through this Tent of Meeting, God would be able to dwell with his people, and they could enjoy his presence with them. It’s a glimpse of heaven!
Are you tired in this season of your life? Do you yearn for rest?
If you have a relationship with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, then take heart! Run to him in your moments of weariness and find rest in encountering him through his word (the Bible), in prayer, and in fellowship with his people.
