August is a funny time of year. I still think of it as the ‘holidays’, despite rarely taking holiday in August, and often being more busy, at work covering for those off with school age children and at home trying to entertain children while normal groups stop for summer. And despite, as this year is demonstrating, it not necessarily being the hottest or sunniest month.

It is of course important that we do all take holiday, at whatever time of year suits us. And that does not only apply to those who work. The Oxford Dictionary defines holiday as ‘an extended period of leisure and recreation’. I would define it simply as ‘rest’. God calls us to "Work for six days and rest the seventh" (Exodus 23:12). Jesus also demonstrated the necessity of rest: ‘Then Jesus said, "Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile."’ (Mark 6:31).