Christmas and vacation

During the Christmas holidays, we tend to get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season that we sometimes forget the essence of Christmas. We even remove Christ from the word Christmas, reducing it to X’mas or substituting it with the name of a product or a shopping center.” Yes, guys, honestly, that’s it… I really don’t enjoy receiving “XMAS GREETINGS”…

Somehow, I am looking forward to a two weeks vacation “between the years” – meaning to say between December 23 and January 7. No teaching. I might spend only a few hours in my agency office.

A rest from some occupation, business and other stressful activities is waiting for me. Strictly speaking, vacation concerns those who are in school or studying in colleges and universities. “Furlough” would be the appropriate term…

Christmas and vacation: Speaking about myself – I want to bring back Christ to the holiday season and indeed wish to share my blessings with the less fortunate. One of the best-known religious poems is “The Hound of Heaven” written by Francis Thompson, who tried to run away from God. He wanted to have a vacation from God. In reality, it is Thompson’s own life. His poem shows clearly the fact in this world that we can have a vacation from physical and mental activities, but never from God.

As I stated before: according to the book of Genesis, after God created the universe in six days, he rested on the seventh day. In other words, he took a vacation. So if God rested after working for some period of time, there is no reason why man, who is finite and limited in his physical strength, should not take a vacation.

Vacation is freedom or release from tension or pressure of work. And, believe me, I learned already from my students that they will enjoy Christmas and vacation. Many of us feel tired and weak. We are stressed, overwhelmed, depressed and worried about the future – the enumeration, in any order whatever, could be incessant.

Relaxation, meditation, and reinvigoration are badly needed for most of us nowadays. Life, affected by the “burnout syndrome” needs to be animated with energy and strengths.

Yes, Christmas has always been equated with all these worldly ways. Sure, there is indeed nothing wrong with this. Let’s don’t only focus on non-stop merrymaking and countless gifts. Let’s take a break, and let’s try to imagine and enjoy the real meaning of Christmas. Merry Christmas again to everyone – also from this corner…

Vacation from God?

My column in Mindanao Daily, BusinessWeek Mindanao and Cagayan de Oro Times.

I am still staying at my hiding place - just 2 more days. A lonely beach. Just relaxing. Next week: back to school. New enrollees are waiting. Back to the office. Clients are asking for appointments already.

Yes, from to time, I need a refreshing pause. Vacation comes from the Latin word "vacare", which literally means, to be empty, to render oneself inoperative. Vacation is freedom or release from tension and pressure of work. It is the rest from some occupation, business or activities.

Strictly speaking, vacation concerns those who are in school or studying in colleges and universities. For professionals, however, furlough would be the appropriate term. 

Why we take a vacation? "All work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy". Remember it? There is always a limit to psychical as well as mental activities. We are not robots nor are we slaves. Neither should we be workaholics, so goes the modern term for those who work themselves to death. We are persons endowed by God with free will and intelligence. The will to work should always be tempered by the intelligence to rest awhile to acquire new energy.

That's what I am doing 4 or 5times a year. 

Speaking about God: Is there a vacation from God? Of course not. There is no such thing as vacation from God of from our religious activities. One of the best known religious poems in English is "The Hound of Heaven". It was written by Francis Thompson who tried to run away from God. He wanted to have a vacation from Him. He compares God to a hound chasing his soul. In reality, it is a story of Thompson's own life.

As a boy, he had in ended to become a priest, but he was lazy. So his father enrolled him in a medical school where the young Francis contracted the opium habit which almost wrecked his mind and body.

He became a beggar, slinking through the slums, his means of survival earned by shining shoes, selling matches and holding horses. Through the kindness of a poor girl, Francis met he couple Meynell, who recognized his talent an inner goodness. Through them, he has "caught" by God's love.

How Thompson tried to run away from God, and how God "hunted" him, how divine love caught up with him - shows clearly the fact that in this world, we can have a vacation from physical and mental activities, but never from God.

Christmas and Vacation

During the Christmas holidays, we tend to be caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season, so that we sometimes forget the essence of Christmas. We even remove Christ from the word Christmas reducing it to X'mas or substituting it with a name of a product or a shopping center. Yes, guys, honestly, that's it... I really don't enjoy received "XMAS GREETINGS"... .

I am glad looking forward to a two weeks vacation "between the years" - meaning to say between December 21 and January 6. No teaching at University of Southeastern Philippines, although most students wish to be prepared for their January exam in Manila; no office hours in my German Honorary Consulate office and agency... 

A rest from some occupation, business and other stressful activities is waiting for me. Strictly speaking, vacation concerns those who are in school or studying in colleges and universities. "Furlough" would be the appropriate term... .

Christmas and vacation: Speaking about myself - I want to bring back Christ to the holiday season and indeed wish to share my blessings with the less fortunate. One of the best-known religious poems is "The Hound of Heaven" written by Francis Thompson, who tried to run away from God. He wanted to have a vacation from God. In reality it is Thompson's own life. His poem shows clearly the fact in this world that we can have a vacation from physical and mental activities, but never from God.

As I stated before: according to the book of Genesis, after God created the universe in six days, he rested on the seventh day. In other words, he took a vacation. So if God rested after working for some period of time, there is no reason why man, who is finite and limited in his physical strength, should not take a vacation.

Vacation is freedom or release from tension or pressure of work. And, believe me, I learned already from my students, that they will enjoy Christmas and vacation. Many of us feel tired and weak. We are stressed, overwhelmed, depressed,  worried about the future. The enumeration, in any order whatever, could be incessant.

Relaxation, meditation, and re-invigoration are badly needed for most of us nowadays. Life, affected by the "burnout syndrome" needs to be animated with energy and strengths. 

Yes, Christmas has always been equated with all these worldly ways. Sure, there is indeed nothing wrong with this. Let's don't only focus on non-stop merrymaking and countless gifts. Let's take a break, and let's try to imagine and enjoy the real meaning of Christmas. Merry Christmas again to everyone - also from this corner... .

Merry Christmas!

TUE, DECEMBER 20, 2016 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

Yes, indeed: during the Christmas holidays, we tend to be caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season, that we sometimes forget the essence of Christmas.

I am glad looking forward to a two weeks vacation “between the years” – meaning to say between December 22 and January 8. No teaching at University of Southeastern Philippines, although most students wish to be prepared for their January exam in Manila; no office hours in my agency….

(City Hall Davao City)

Christmas and vacation: Speaking about myself – I want to bring back Christ to the holiday season and indeed wish to share my blessings with the less fortunate. One of the best-known religious poems is “The Hound of Heaven” written by Francis Thompson, who tried to run away from God. He wanted to have a vacation from God. In reality it is Thompson’s own life. His poem shows clearly the fact in this world that we can have a vacation from physical and mental activities, but never from God.

As I stated before: according to the book of Genesis, after God created the universe in six days, he rested on the seventh day. In other words, he took a vacation. So if God rested after working for some period of time, there is no reason why man, who is finite and limited in his physical strength, should not take a vacation.

Vacation is freedom or release from tension or pressure of work. And, believe me, I learned already from my students, that they will enjoy Christmas and vacation. Many of us feel tired and weak. Some are stressed, overwhelmed, depressed worried about the future – the enumeration, in any order whatever, could be incessant.

Relaxation, meditation, and reinvigoration are badly needed for most of us nowadays. Life, affected by the “burnout syndrome” needs to be animated with energy and strengths.

Yes, Christmas has always been equated with all these worldly ways. Sure, there is indeed no-thing wrong with this. Let’s don’t only focus on non-stop merrymaking and count-less gifts. Let’s take a break, and let’s try to imagine and enjoy the real meaning of Christmas. Merry Christmas again to everyone – also from this corner…

Make sure that during this season Christmas is in our hearts and do not allow this heart to be like a crib, full of dirt, broken glass and nails. Time out from our busy schedules and seemingly endless work and tasks – to take a pause should be really important for all of us.

Praying in the quiet chapel or somewhere in your surroundings, time to forgive and mend a broken friend- or relationship, time to think about people, who we need in life, time to do good deeds.

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Christmas and vacation

TUE, DECEMBER 15, 2015 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINION
Klaus Doring

Several years ago, MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR‘s Editorial stated it very clear: “During the Christmas holidays, we tend to be caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season, that we sometimes forget the essence of Christmas. We even remove Christ from the word Christmas reducing it to X’mas or substituting it with a name of a product or a shopping center.”

Yes, guys, honestly, that’s it…! I really don’t enjoy received “XMAS GREETINGS”….

I am glad looking forward to a two weeks vacation “between the years” – meaning to say between December 23 and January 7. No teaching at University of Southeastern Philippines, although most students wish to be prepared for their January exam in Manila. I might also send a very few office hours in my agency.

A rest from some occupation, business and other stressful activities is waiting for me. Strictly speaking, vacation concerns those who are in school or studying in colleges and universities. “Furlough” would be the appropriate term….

Christmas and vacation: Speaking about myself – I want to bring back Christ to the holiday season and indeed wish to share my blessings with the less fortunate. One of the best-known religious poems is “The Hound of Heaven” written by Francis Thompson, who tried to run away from God. He wanted to have a vacation from God. In reality it is Thompson’s own life. His poem shows clearly the fact in this world that we can have a vacation from physical and mental activities, but never from God.

As I stated before: according to the book of Genesis, after God created the universe in six days. He rested on the seventh day. In other words, He took a vacation. So if God rested after working for some period of time, there is no reason why man, who is finite and limited in his physical strength, should not take a vacation.

Vacation is freedom or release from tension or pressure of work. And, believe me, I learned already from my students, that they will enjoy Christmas and vacation. Many of us feel tired and weak. We are stressed, overwhelmed, depressed and worried about the future – the enumeration, in any order whatever, could be incessant.

Relaxation, meditation, and reinvigoration are badly needed for most of us nowadays. Life, affected by the “burnout syndrome” needs to be animated with energy and strengths.

Yes, Christmas has always been equated with all these worldly ways. Sure, there is indeed nothing wrong with this. Let’s don’t only focus on non-stop merrymaking and countless gifts. Let’s take a break, and let’s try to imagine and enjoy the real meaning of Christmas. Merry Christmas again to everyone – also from this corner….

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Email: doringklaus @gmail.com or follow me in Facebook or Twitter or visit www.germanexpatin the philippines.blogspot. com or www.klausdorings classicalmusic.blogspot.com.