Transcript

American is known for its love affair with vacations.  After WWII, America saw an explosion of vacations—specifically in the 50s and 60s.  With the creation of the interstate highway system, it became common for families to load up the camper and do a road trip to places like the beach or a recreational lake.  Or, with cheap air fair, they would jump on a plane to places like Disneyland or Yellowstone.  Let’s go to Thacker, Oklahoma.

This small town I’m standing in just north of the Texas border symbolizes much of what American vacations are all about.  This casino is like most other casinos whether they’re in Las Vegas or Atlantic City.  Most casinos don’t just have gambling.  They also have live shows, swimming pools, playgrounds, entertainment for children, great restaurants, and more.  They’re supposed to be for the whole family.

But vacations have declined significantly.  Some say summer vacations are dead.  Some say we are now a no-vacation nation.  And when Americans do take a vacation, 61% say they will work during that vacation on emailing, texting, documents on a laptop, and phone calls.  Why?

• They’re worried about a heavy workload upon return
• Or they think that no one else can do their job
• Or they want to show their dedication
• Or they say—I’m afraid of being seen as replaceable

According to the US Travel Bureau, the average American worker took 20 days (or four weeks) of vacation in 1976.  In 2013, that number shrunk to 16 days (three weeks) per year.  That’s one whole week that’s being ceded back to their employers.

In 1930, the renowned economist John Maynard Keynes predicted that by the 21st century there would barely be any work to go around.  He said that Americans might work 15 hours a week, but that would only be to satisfy the old Adam in most of us.  He was referring to Adam in the Garden of Eden who was told to work six days a week.

We’re not going to get into economic theory to examine why things didn’t turn out the way that economists back in the 30s predicted they would.

But we want you to know about God’s vacation plan.  It’s called The Feast of Tabernacles.  It’s God’s way to give the Christian family rest and rejuvenation.  It’s found in the Bible.  In the Church of God International, we have Feast of Tabernacles sites all over the world where Christian families get together and celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles every year.  Again, celebrating God’s vacation time. 

We want to give you more information about this.  You don’t have to pay any fees to attend our Feast sites.  You just pay your own expenses.  Why don’t you check out the Feast of Tabernacles on our website?

We’ll see you next time on Connecting History and the Bible here at cgi.org.