THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

This weekend is the annual May Day holiday weekend. Many people are able to take the day off on Monday to enjoy a public holiday.

Of course, many businesses, especially entertainment and leisure businesses, don’t take the holiday off, because it’s one of their biggest business days or weekends of the year. Other businesses provide essential services, and operate every day of the year, perhaps even 24/7. Their employees will get the holiday later in the year, or will receive extra pay in lieu.

Holidays began as Holy

Days.

The

Jewish religion introduced the idea of a day off every week – a Sabbath day. It was a day when work was reduced to the essentials only, and people had more time for each other and for God.

For a long time in the UK, Sunday was our weekly Sabbath day, when only essential businesses were open. But now, in our 24/7 culture, when do we take time out – for each other and for God? Do we need time out like that?

It seems to me that in this always-on society in which we live, it is important that we take time, and make time, to know what life is all about, to establish our place within our families and communities, to understand our purpose.

Try having a quiet time at the start of each day, or at the end. Or perhaps have a quieter day in the week, like the Sabbath idea. Or when you’re on holiday, give yourself some space and time to reflect on what you will return to afterwards.

As I write, we have just celebrated Easter, the culmination of Jesus’ mission to bring God’s love to the whole world – something we can all share. Reverend Stewart Goudie, North West

Lochaber Church of Scotland.