As I have written about here before, Maine is known as Vacationland and while this year is very different from others due to the pandemic, our state is nonetheless an awesome place to spend the summer. All of which got me thinking about what it is that a summer respite does for us, especially during times like the ones we are living. And I think it all comes down to the need for retreat and rest.
Scripture states in Isaiah 30:15 that “In returning and rest you shall be saved,” or sustained in other words, and it was none other than William Shakespeare who suggested “Let us make an honorable retreat, but not with bag and baggage.” In other words, it is not necessary to bring an abundance of stuff on your getaway but rather it is helpful to learn what it means to live more lightly, with less baggage of all types.
Linda and I have made several new friends this summer, one of whom commented upon touring our home here at the lighthouse that she admired our minimalist lifestyle and had tried to live the same way during her extended stay here at a vacation rental in our neighborhood. After all is said and done, I think we can each think of ways to lighten our load and carry less baggage on our journeys through life.
Alan Lightman, the author of In Praise of Wasting Time, writes that “One of the definitions of a living organism…involves the ability to separate itself from its surroundings and create a stable and orderly environment within itself.” If that does not describe what we typically need during a vacation, I don’t know what does. Getting away from it all gives us the time and space to press pause and reorder the disconnected parts of our lives.
Especially as a creative person, I find myself craving such time and space. As author Margaret Walker wrote, “A writer needs certain conditions in which to work and create. She needs a piece of time; a peace of mind; a quiet place; and a private life.” But whether or not you consider yourself to be the artist type, I encourage you to regularly escape your daily routine in order to retreat and rest, even if it is a staycation close to home, wherever that may be.