Vacatio Gloria

Bob Hostetler

Thank you, Lord, for vacation.

Thank you for generous friends,
for woodland cottages,
for lakeshore hammocks,
small-town bookstores,
and long lazy days.

Thank you for mornings spent
sipping coffee
and reading day-old newspapers.

Thank you for Annie Dillard
and Bruce MacLaren
and Tracy Groot
and Louis L'Amour.

Thank you for movie matinees,
newly discovered places,
and a comfortable bed.

Thank you for seeing my lovely wife's face relax,
and hearing her laugh.

Thank you for reminding me that
the church
and the family
and the world
can actually go on existing,
and thriving,
without me.

Thank you for vacations, in Jesus' name, amen.