The summer school holidays are over. For some this is a matter of huge relief, for others an instance of regret and an occasion of great disappointment (school has returned). During the school holidays many of us also take the time to enjoy a holiday, whether it be a simple break from work at home or a more elaborate vacation and journey to a far off place. According to the government website, Money Smart, the average Australian household spends $77 per week on holidays. (The same website also tells me that we spend an average of $8 per week on shoes.)
When it comes to the amount of time employers grant to employees for leave, Australia is around the average for developed countries with four weeks annual leave for most workers (some occupations that require shift work get more leave). In addition, depending on which state you live in, there are between 10 and 13 public holidays each year. New Zealand and the UK have similar annual leave requirements, but amongst all the OECD countries only the USA has no federally prescribed minimum paid annual leave. Almost a quarter of Americans have no annual leave entitlement!
Where Australia really shines is in Long Service Leave – an almost uniquely Australian institution. Long Service Leave arose out of the provision in some states for public servants to travel back to England after 10 years and be able to return to their ‘colonial appointment’. After World War 2, the provision of long service leave spread beyond the public service and is now enshrined in legislation. As well as our four weeks annual leave, if we serve for around 10 years with the same organisation, we get an extra two months leave. It is worth noting that many people who are self-employed often find that it is almost impossible to take any form of holidays.
The benefits of holidays are well known and widely understood. Some of the benefits are improved physical and mental health, better relationships, and increased levels of happiness. These benefits are largely due to the nature of holidays as a time of rest. It is true that some holidays are not very restful. The mammoth backpacking trip through Europe that many Australians undertake is often an exercise in endurance and patience rather than a peaceful rest. However, most of us look forward to holidays as a time of rest and respite. The business of doing is replaced be the un-business of not doing. Chores become choices and we enjoy a respite from our responsibilities.
Holidays are not a biblical concept, despite the idea of holiday being rooted in the concept of Holy Day. Indeed, many of the public holidays we enjoy today, for example Christmas, are religious festivals. At various times in church history, different groups tried to ban or downplay holidays and Holy Days. The idea of taking ‘a few weeks off’ was seen as both impractical – cows, sheep and weeds don’t take holidays – and impious. Business was seen as being godly and taking a vacation was euphemism for giving into idleness and sloth.
Despite the church’s occasional disquiet about holidays, the concept of rest is entirely biblical. After the work of creation, God rested. The Ten Commandments includes an injunction to rest. Various religious festivals throughout Israel’s calendar included an aspect of resting from regular work. As well as being a mirroring of God’s rest from his work of creation this rest was also a time to build upon the individual’s relationship with God.
The importance of resting from work is carried over into the New Testament. Jesus takes his disciples into the wilderness around Judea so that they can find rest from their labours. Heaven itself is seen as the ultimate rest for God’s people, an end to their labours.
As the new year gets well and truly underway, let us not forget the importance of finding rest. Not simply taking a holiday, which can be tiring if we try to do too much. Nor getting away for a weekend in attempt to catch up on things we haven’t finished. Let us remember that God himself is our rest, in him we can find our refreshment and re-creation. Through Jesus let us enter into God’s rest and enjoy his peace., even in the business of life.
Yours in Christ.
Andrew Heron
