It’s interesting how busy we can get around the holidays.
I’ve observed that where you work or if you work doesn’t really matter when it
comes to keeping busy. Some people work
retail (where you have to work during the holidays) while some get paid
holidays. They both stay busy as does
the fortunate few that don’t have to work but still find the holidays as busy
times with gift buying, travel and entertainment.
Being really busy may be great for the companies, the
stores and the people that want you to buy the products or use their
services. There are sales on everything
from computers to cars, from tablets to toys.
Restaurants, hotels and the highways are full with people eating,
drinking, dining, vacationing and driving….hopefully not all at the same time.
Not the way they were supposed to be.....
Holidays weren't supposed to be like that. There was a time when most people worked a
minimum of six and often seven days a week.
As much of the economy was based on agriculture, there was always a
field that needed attending or an animal that needed to be brought in or taken
out. Holidays and Feasts were designed to change that routine, to rest, if just for a few days.
Many of the holidays in ancient Israel for example were
tied to the seasons and associated with different harvests. The Passover is celebrated at the time of the ancient celebration of
Pesach. Pesach was the early spring harvest of barley.
The Succoth, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles or Feast of Booths,
was a late summer celebration of the wheat harvest. These were times to pause and remember the blessings
of the Lord. While there was always some
busyness associated with these holidays, they were to be different than the
busyness of everyday.
Our holidays in the United States (i.e. Labor Day,
Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, Christmas, President’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr.
Day, etc.) all started with the honor and purpose of the remembrance but also a
pause…..a time off from work and the routines of life.
Three-day weekends
Interestingly, the government has tried to move these
holidays when possible to Monday to embrace a three-day weekend. Unfortunately, the effort to create more
‘free time’ has actually created even more busyness as we now have the
opportunity to think bigger, travel further and experience even more.
I’m old enough to remember that stores were typically
closed on Sunday and most businesses were closed both Saturday and Sunday. There was a time when looking to the future
meant even more leisure time for working people and families. I’m afraid the present trend is even more
busyness.
In your time of busyness, pause for just a moment to
remember what we are celebrating and be sure to thank God as well for the many
blessings we all enjoy.
