Getting away from our ordinary schedule or, better yet, from our usual ambience, our work, even the people with whom we deal day in and day out can give us a better sense of proportion. Talk about platitudes; I've just given you an all too obvious one. It's part of the idea behind vacations, getaways, sabbaticals, leaves. But do we appreciate or value such opportunities enough? So often when we are totally and happily absorbed in our work, we don't feel any need to get away from it or want to do so. But even then, we could benefit. We get away from family concerns and problems, from continuing hassles on the job, and we see all this in a new light. We might end up asking ourselves why we thought something was so important or why we let something else bother us so continually. Constant irritants begin to look like mere blips. Though the issues that have been such constant bothers might not disappear, we might either return to them with a new outlook or, at times, even with some new ideas about how to face them. Something as simple as a getaway or vacation can serve a very important function in revitalizing our life as followers of Christ. There are, of course, more specialized helps to this; we call them retreats. And even lesser changes, like getting away from the same meals, the same routine (coffee every morning in the same place with the same people) can refresh us. Change and variety are not just the refuge of flighty people. We all need some flight.
— Don Talafous OSB
dtalafous@csbsju.edu