The logistics involved in taking my family on vacation are mind-boggling. Choosing dates and plane tickets. Helping children giddy with excitement over seeing cousins and grandparents pack suitcases. Striking the balance between taking enough and too much. The collective bargaining that goes on to determine how long we will stay and where. Oh, and did I mention that my husband doesn't have as much time off as I do (what were we thinking having a baby this year!?) and so I'm flying solo cross country with my four darlings? (To his credit, he'll be flying back with us).

I don't leave for close to 16 hours and I'm already feeling jet-lagged.

Sunday mornings have a similar feel sometimes. Saturday is all about logistics. Do we have church clothes, Bibles, diaper bag, etc laid out and ready to go? What will we be doing for breakfst and/or lunch. And if I choose to forgo the routine, Sunday morning is chaos.

Even on the best Sunday mornings, things often feel rushed as we push to get to church in time for worship practice, try to squeeze in visits with friends we won't see for another week, take care of the details of church business.

Then is it peaceful? Not usually...we've been training our children to sit in church with us (and training ourselves to train them!) and juggling our baby, whose sleep habits by now require no description. Honestly, on this day of rest, I'm typically exhausted!

So what do vacation and church have in common, besides not meeting up to my expectations of being restful?

I wouldn't give up either one for the trade-off of less work.

I can't wait to see my family. I also know that the minute my feet hit the humid soil of the Southeast that I'll be surrounded by love--not to mention the extra hands to help me out. Who knows, I may manage to sneak in some time for myself during the next two weeks?

Similarly, when I miss the fellowship of believers, I feel the loss all week. Enter my "village" again...corporate worship is energizing, hearing the Word preached by one of God's learned men sharpens me, even if I'm only listening with one ear as I correct my four year old or walk the baby around the back of the church. My "family" here jump in as well. There is always someone ready to lend a hand with the kids or offer an encouraging word.

Such insignificant discomfort for such delightful reward.

Rreading Hebrews reminds me that there remains yet another "Sabbath rest" for believers. Boy, there is one vacation I really can't wait for...

...I'll get to see my entire spiritual family, all at once!

...The corporate worship is rumored to be phenomenal.

...Accomodations are first class.

...There is no packing involved. In fact, you can't take anything with you. You can't even get in on your own, as the Host's Son holds the key.

...It's forever. No return trip to deal with.

Until then, I'm going to work on finding my "rest" in the blessings that Sundays (and vacations) offer; rembering that what I see here is just a blip on the radar of eternity.

AND I'm going to finish packing for tomorrow. Back to the logistics command center.

Have a blessed Sabbath.