The Falls City tribune., 1910-09-02
THE QUIET HOUR
The Vacationless Devil
The Devil never takes a vacation, y

There is no more real reason for following his example in this
respect than in any other.
While demonoogy is a somewhat obscure field of inyestiga-
ton, it is possible that if he had taken more of them he would
not be where he is
But, seriously, one of the flabbiest pieces of reasoning in the
world is that which argues from the fact that the father and
forces of evil are always busy, to the intimation that there is some
doubt as to the justifabilty of minister or laymen taking sever
al weeks off annually for relaxation and general refreshing up.
For a busy life there is no more profitable investment than a
summer vacation-whether it cover several months, o Is limited
to a week or two.
y Il y *
It may not be so much that he-or she-needs rest as change.
Although, if he is a minister, and is aggressively-as they say of
the man in business-"onto his job, )" he does need the rest. And
then the eongregation-w well, as the physician said of his garrul-
Gus patients tongue-"it needs rest too Even "A popular pas
tors influence will not suffer severely if he goes away and comes
back once in awhile.
Almost anyone-whether an occupant of pulpit or pew-will
go stale after awhile, if the unyarying routine is kept up too
long without occasional breaks. The man who boasts that he has
not taken a vacation for twentyseven years hardly needs to
announce the fact. Ills friends realize it and they devoutly
wish he had.
This delicately constructed human machine through which the
soul works, is not intended to illustrate perpetual motion.
Anyone can work until body and brain rebel, and the nerves
srpass Dante in portraying things internal. He is the wise man
and outstrips the other, in work actually accomplished as the tor
toise did the hare-who lays a IS much emphasis on rest as ON toll.
lie gives a practical illustration of the old saw that "a moment
of Judgment is worth a day of energy. y
He who comes to his task-in pulpit, or study, r office, or
shop, or anywhere else for that matter-with the keen alertness
of an unfagged brain will increase the quantity of his work inn
measuraby. Any brain worker knows that there are times when
his work has wings and when its performance is sheer enjoyment.
And he also knows of times when every effort wrings out a men
tai groan. The principle that explains the difference in the
principle that underies vacation days.
Il * u ~ ~ y y
The essential thing in a n ideal vacation is change-change of
scene, change of mental-and that means bodily too-occupation;
the making of new thoughtruts in the brain.
The sweetest photograph e ord will get scratchy' after
long use. So will every regulation line OF thinking.
A vacation should bring change. If you spend from two to
six hours a day with your books in your study, all the rest of the
1aap II ic u n1aStiop If a bautauano * tba but plaoat n crnn1
your summer outing days-uneSs you do, as you used to do in
your college mathematics oecasonary-"eut the classes A
week or two in the %woods-not necessarily in a tent-with still
collars and cuffs discarded, and a general relaxation from the
tense strain OF the year would be far more recuperative, and
send you back, to your parish, with fewer notes of addresses and
lectures, but with your mental machinery in far better trim for
turning out your own thoughts. On the other hand, for the ma or
woman whose busy, active life ordinarily crowds books out, a
Chautauqua schedule may prove the very thing needed.
There are vacations, as well as repentmces, that needs to
be repented of, and from which people have to come home to rest.
Wise selection in the choice OF vacation experiences is as inn
portant as the vacation itself.
Incidentally, and so far as the preacher is concerned, it is
money in any congregation pocket to send its pastor off for a
months change of viion-even if they have to foot the bills.
As Gladstone, or somebody else said of the orator and his
audlenee-he gives them back in the rain of eloQuenee what they
send up to him in the msts c. interested attention. The re
and in the benefits derived by his people from his replenished
stock of vitality, and his new angle Of vision.
s. y = 8 * = =
1t is well to remember that vacations do not stand being too
much talked about.
We all recall Viii Carleton s Travelled Parson' whose con
gregatim expressed its appreciation of his fidelity by raising a
purse to send him to Europe and the Holy Land, and lived to re-
greet it, as they listened to his neyer-ceasng references % 'when
| was in Jerusaem, - and 'fWhen assembled Vesuyius" This
does not mean that the material gathered while ON these vacation
trips may not often be worked into a series of sermons to advan-
tage. 1t undoubtedly may.
But, aside from this, tact will remind us of the fact that from
the many, tied to their tasks" it is sometimes n little too much
to expect. unlimited enjoyment Of our pleasures from which they
We're debarred.
A prince once gave his Jester anthem, But when then will it be?,