My family and I just returned from four weeks of vacation and it was great! We spent a few days in the States, we went camping and we visited with family. I got to a couple of Roughrider games and I even won a stock car race at the speedway (something that I have wanted to do since I was a little kid).

All in all, it was a great holiday. No phones to answer. No one knocking on the door wanting something. No one demanding anything of me. I spent days and days doing whatever I wanted whenever I wanted (Well, that is not quite true because I was with Sara and the girls so I had to modify my plans once in while).

That being said, you may think that I am sad about being back at work today. In fact, today is also the first day of “Vacation Bible School” (one of the busiest weeks of the year), so you may think that I am really missing my carefree vacation life, but I am not. Actually, I am glad to be home and back at work, because it means that I am back with people that I care about and doing something that I love.

Strangely, we have this idea that if we could just do nothing all day long, then life would be great. Yet, a few days of doing nothing is about all most people can stand. A break is nice, but if we woke up every morning with nothing to do and no one to spend time with, we would be miserable. In fact, that is what makes retirement so difficult for many men. Once they really have nothing to do, life is not that exciting.

The bottom line is that we all need a purpose to live for and something to do. Maybe that is why Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” (Luke 9:23-25).

If we are only living for ourselves, with no consideration of what God wants or how we may serve others, then we are going to end up at the wrong destination. Jesus says that focusing solely on my wants, needs and desires is the most counterproductive thing that we can do.

Real life, real joy and real contentment come when we not live for ourselves but when we our lives for God and others.

Tim Pippus

Estevan Church of Christ