Vacation bugs

June 4, 2007

By William E. Richardson

“But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren … ” (1 Thessalonians 5:1, NKJV).

The sunny, warm, vacation days of summer are here, a favorite season to millions of Americans. We welcome the extra opportunities for physical relaxation and play and to travel beyond the places we normally go.

These months also usher in a season of unwanted insects. Summer bugs. The tiny, winged and multilegged creatures enter our personal space; they buzz around us; they crawl on us. Summer bugs are known to bite, sting, and suck our blood.

I’ve noticed other seasonal invaders. Vacation bugs. With the increased freedom to relax and travel, we may lower our spiritual alertness and discover these bugs buzzing our way. Instead of a physical sting, their bites cause us to fall into predictable types of thinking and acting. Here are three examples.

Spiritual lethargy. Too many Christians feel this reaction to a bite. What are the signs to look for? They include but are not limited to the following: your Bible becomes heavier than usual to lift and harder to open and you feel too worn-out on Sunday morning to attend a local church. Bible-based thinking will become more difficult. Of course, without reading your Bible and without mixing with other Christians, clear Bible-based thinking lessens.

Increased misdirected energy. Another reaction to a vacation bug bite elevates your adrenaline. With your senses filled with new sights and sounds, you may consider certain amusements you wouldn’t normally. You may find yourself gambling, watching pornography, or indulging in similar attractions. Those who’ve experienced spiritual lethargy are highly susceptible to this kind of increased energy. Like the harmful bite of a mosquito carrying a disease, interests developed during this time may stay in the bloodstream to affect your future.

Unwise spending. Our money sticks to things that excite us. If you overspend while on vacation, you may not return home able to tithe or keep other pledges to God. If you didn’t plan ahead by tithing before vacation or setting the money aside for afterwards, then you’ve walked into a spider web where money that belongs to God becomes stuck to other things.

Every summer, Christians face these and other vacation bug scenarios. Of course, no one plans to be bitten. No more than a person plans for a colony of ants to invade their picnic. But remember, vacation bugs can bite you only if you let your guard down.

The best insect repellent for vacation bugs is a life of consistent Bible reading and worship. Determine before you leave home you will not take any kind of vacation from God. Instead, plan ahead how you’ll keep your relationship with Him strong while on vacation. Enjoy the season, but watch out for the bugs.

William E. Richardson is senior pastor of Afton (Iowa) Assembly of God.