From the Editors July 22, 2013 Issue

A welcome retreat

The Editors

More and more people are planning exciting summer vacations this year that consist of doing ... absolutely nothing. That’s the conclusion drawn from a recent article published in The Christian Science Monitor (“As Memorial Day arrives, Americans plan ‘chill’ vacations,” May 25, 2013). Instead of traveling to exotic locations where each day is filled with activity, a growing number of people are choosing to spend their down time resting by the pool, in a hammock, or even just the front porch, so they can be as idle as possible.

How often does modern life allow us simply to be still and feel God's presence?

A major reason for this trend is the constantly connected, wired, nature of modern life. The incredible technological progress in recent years has made it tougher to disconnect. The result may be that many people find themselves living stressed and frenetic lives. Even those who might not feel frazzled by technology may be dealing with other concerns about taking a break—such as not having the financial means to do something special, or not having someone to share a get-away with. In light of this, a vacation that consists of peaceful relaxation—often leaving one’s electronic devices or daily routines behind—sounds appealing!

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