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July 26, 2019
Vacation or Stay-cation?
Vacation or Stay-cation? Staycations are the vacations we can create while staying home. Let’s try looking at this question in a Catholic way. Looking at things in a Catholic way requires thinking in the light of the word "catholic:" worldwide, for everyone, for every situation; economic and health wise. A philosophy that flows from the invitation of Jesus Christ for continuing transformation in our lives; all our lives. So, the Catholic way of answering this end-of-the-summer question of vacation or stay-cation is both, and.
We hope your family can enjoy both a vacation and a stay-cation. Vacations can be at the beach or the mountains. Growing up, we alternated between the two. My brown-haired father loved the beach, and my red-headed mother loved the mountains. We kids did not get a vote, but easily took on adventure wherever we went. The historic sites were always a must see, and if there was an ice cream parlor then that became our new favorite town. We always returned home with stories of our trip and oddly enough, all of us kids always made it back home, even though there were always threats that someone would be left behind if they didn’t behave.
Stay-cations are newer but equally beneficial. Think of it like you just moved to Chapel Hill last month. (We know some of you did!) On any given day, take the time to explore. Not just the Dean Dome, Franklin Street and Jordan Lake, but also St. Thomas More, Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral, Duke Chapel and St. Julia in Siler City. Spiritual summer days are really the best of both, and. Adventure and prayer. Start with fixing a picnic lunch and a visit to the Blessed Sacrament Chapel here at St. Thomas More, walk the Stations of the Cross and then off to some spiritual places. Plan your own favorite way to both enjoy and pray the day. There is a free walking tour of Chapel Hill that starts at the Morehead Planetarium. Prayer and stars….see how easy this spiritual journey is.
The experiences we have on our journey of life can help us in the invitation that Jesus Christ has for our ongoing transformation. That we can be both old and new. That we are both religious and spiritual. That we can have both a vacation and a stay-cation.
Morning Prayer on the Haw River