School’s Out!

Do you remember the excitement of the last day of the school year? The next few days were exhilarating. No more studying, tests, and tight schedules. Then your first wakeup call was that it was more difficult to spend time with friends; summer vacation meant that summer camps, visits on grandparents’ farm, family vacations, and—garden or farm work kept us away from frolicking with friends. It wasn’t all bad—just different. Mainly a wonderful difference.

For me, one of the exciting parts of the end of the school year was ripe plums. Plums were just beginning to ripen as school ended. Terraces on the hill at my grandfather’s farm were mottled with plum trees; wild yellow plums and red plums. To beat the Brown Thrashers to the plum trees was a challenge. These plum trees were not the cultivated kind; they grew randomly all over the farm; usually snugly ensconced on the terraces—far enough away from the corn and peanut cultivators.

I shutter to recall how we ran all around the farm barefoot. Sand-spurs were the nemesis of bare-feet. Nevertheless we became adept at dodging them—just to enjoy the feeling of dirt under our feet. There is something visceral about bare feet on soft or freshly plowed earth; in a way it’s similar to walking along a sandy beach.

The joy of being out of school is a form of vacation for students and teachers; not so much for parents. However, it does open the opportunity to try new routines, learn or try different patterns in life. Learning is not always easy. Most of us cherish to our comfort zones as we cling to what is easy. The Pandemic taught us (well, mostly) that new ways of living, though often challenging, if not painful, open new windows to life.

Attitude makes dramatic difference. Back to the “School’s Out!” cheer. The attitude of a change of pace or a joyful venture can can give vigor for our circumstances. . Barton Goldsmith Ph.D.. writing on Emotional Fitness in Psychology Today said, Science has proven that a brain that’s constantly in stimulation and can’t relax will eventually go into overload, and, just like not getting enough sleep, you will start making mistakes. To be at your best, you need time off—Taking a break, vacation, or other easing routines or pressures can be not only fun, but also superb for your health.

The Prophet, Elijah faced what could have been certain death by the enraged Queen Jezebel. In terror, he fled to the mountain. He ran out of fear. Yet in his respite—being away from all terror, and in the quietness he heard, ..a still small voiice God’s voice. It invigorated and emboldened him, so that he could do his work.

You may recall that Jesus made it a custom to go apart from it all for renewal and rest. As his popularity soared, he needed time away to pray. When his disciples had worked very hard, he led them away to a quiet place so they could refresh. And the Gospel of Luke mentioned seven more times where Jesus needed a prayer break. We all need an occasional break in routine. It is so important that even God needed a rest. As an old friend of mine once said, “Go, and do likewise.”

©Copyright Willis H. Moore 2023