As Christians, we need to look forward to the prospect of the new creation, when true paradise will be restored. The Bible provides us with a ‘holiday brochure’ vision of the glory to come in the book of Revelation, which makes us long to be there, and enables us to endure life in the fallen world as we wait for the eternal ‘getaway.’ We have small foretastes of it in the life of the church community, and every gathering ought to be an anticipation of that final destination. 

As the Coronavirus lockdown restrictions are lifted, and hotels, campsites and holiday parks reopen and quarantine restrictions are removed to enable foreign travel to many countries, our thoughts naturally turn to summer holidays. Perhaps you have booked already. 

Of course vacations away from home are generally the privilege of those who are, in world terms, relatively wealthy. It seems to me that we enjoy getting away from our usual context both for a rest, and also to have a taste of a different kind of life for a short time.

Our holidays tend to take one of two forms. For some of us, our holidays are an opportunity to experience a style of life that it a ‘step up’ from the norm that we enjoy at home. This might mean a higher standard of accommodation, or someone else serving us and meeting our needs. We may want to go somewhere that we regard as closer to a ‘taste of paradise’ – stereotypically approximating to a tropical island. Most top-end British hotels are essentially allowing us to pretend we are living in an Edwardian stately home for a week or two. They are Downton Abbey theme parks.

For others, holidays are all about escaping to a more basic way of living, de-cluttered and closer to an elemental way of life that is less secure and stable. They are a ‘step away’ from ordinary comforts. This is true of adventure holidays in the wild, and to some extent of camping and caravanning (at leas in my view! – Try standing up if you are 6ft 8). The usual comforts of home are left behind, and perhaps we return home with a renewed appreciation of basics we so easily take for granted. 

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