Vacationers vs. Travelers
by Patti Pateros, Director of Community Building
Upon her return from a trip to Italy, a co-worker once described me as a "vacationer" rather than a "traveler." I initially took it as an insult because it made me sound un-cultured. But it also made me think about my travels, and I have to admit, that label does suit me well.
I generally take two vacations each year: one to somewhere tropical as I escape the winter doldrums, the second to northern Wisconsin to get away from the heat of the summer. While I'm away, I sit by the water, read, eat and enjoy the quiet. I don't sightsee; I don't stay up late partying; I don't hike or bike. I lay around and do nothing, which makes me even worse than a vacationer - more like a "loafer."
In my defense, I need that time away. I feel like my life is one big journey and those vacations are my rest stops in that great adventure. Every traveler needs a break, a time to re-energize and map out the next leg of the trip. That's what my vacations do for me; they truly are my rest stops in life.
The theme for this year's adult programs is "A Journey of Faith" and we are providing you with a Traveler's Guide to help you find your way. Having experienced one of the worst economic situations in our lifetime, we will try to move past the anxiety and struggles it has created in order to reach emotional peace. We will experience worship services that will spiritually take us to a different place. We will meet people whose work, locally and globally, will remind us that one person can make a difference in this world. We will study in-depth various religions and the impact they have made on the history, geography, and populations of the world. And most importantly, we will take time to get to know each other better, as we are fellow travelers on this long journey.
We are also providing side trips along the way. Greenhouse, SoulJourners, Bible Study classes and various parish ministries are ways to take a breather from the chaos of everyday life and help us understand where we are going and why. New this year are Oasis and the Men's Fraternity. The format of each allows time for fellowship, conversation, prayer and learning with others who are all on the same path. Lastly, the parish provides plenty of fellowship events at which we can let our hair down and party together.
We all need to be "travelers" on this "Journey of Faith"-not sightseers, or vacationers, certainly not loafers, but active participants. We might hit some bumps in the road, and encounter a few detours along the way. But if we stick together and take advantage of the guides provided, this should be one heck of a trip. So pack your bags, turn on your navigation systems, and away we go!
