God knows we need it! He created us in the first place and knows we need to be re-created through rest and time away. Jesus once said to his disciples, “‘Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.” (St. Mark 6:31–32) Christ knew that his followers had to get away by themselves. And yet, they weren’t all by themselves. Jesus himself was present among his disciples, even as they rested.

So, as your summer and vacation time gets underway, I want to encourage you, in wherever you go and whatever you do, to remember Christ’s presence among you. Or to put it another way, while you need to take a vacation (usually for sanity’s sake) you need not take a vacation from God! Among all the busyness of your lives from which you deserve a break—work, school, schedules, deadlines—to break from God is to break away from our Creator who truly can make our time away “re-creative.”

I’d like to offer three summertime suggestions, therefore, beginning with the obvious. First, don’t you dare think of June through August as “down time” from church. Worshipping on Sunday is non-negotiable for Christians. If you recall, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” is one of the “Big Ten,” and Sunday has always been seen as the Christian “Sabbath,” the day set aside for worship. I’ve heard a bold and meddling preacher address this in a sermon, once, saying that to miss Mass on a Sunday is nothing less than a sin against God—a sin of idolatry since one is putting something (whether that be sleep or Starbucks) in the place of God. He went on to say that missing Sunday worship is also a sin against your neighbor, since the whole Christian community, priests and people alike, depend upon one another in offering the Eucharist. The preacher was right on both points. To take Sundays off flies in the face of Jesus’ Great Commandment, loving God first and neighbors as ourselves.

Secondly, if you go out of town this summer, find a church to go to. Meg and I have already identified a parish near where we’ll be staying in Florida. But if you can’t find an Episcopal or Anglican church, go exploring! You’ll have the chance to see how other churches worship, an experience you might have even if you visit a church within the Episcopal/Anglican tradition. Worshiping away from home, again, puts God first and strengthens us as Catholic Christians: people who believe our local parish is a small part of Christ’s worldwide Church.

Thirdly, think of your time off, and your time away, as time with God. Back in seminary, my spiritual director gave me some sound advice about the importance of being mindful of God and his presence in all aspects of life, since seminary is a hectic time when even those preparing for ministry find it hard to “fit God in.” I remember him saying to me, “So, you have to read a book? Read it with God. You have to write a paper? Write it with God.” And now, what was once offered as advice for keeping God a part of my busy life, I offer you for including God in your times of leisure. So, are you going on vacation? Vacation with God. Going to the beach? Go with God. Bring him to mind as you camp, or water-ski, or read a novel. Golf with God. Whatever you do, thank him for the glory of creation, the time and space he has given you for rest, and the gift of relationships.

If you do this, if you remember the Creator wherever you go, I bet you’ll find that your time of recreation is also a time of re-creation. You will find him and experience him in all things, to your refreshment and joy.