-----I believe that you should take full advantage of the word vacate which makes up the heart of vacation. Get up, get on, and get out. And so I do, and have, and will continue to do so. Sadly I speak with too many who just stay home, not even resting or taking advantage of time off-it is meant to cause you to rest, not just sleep in late. I'm told, "it's the same everywhere, why would I want to go there?" And maybe they are right. If you're tired, catch up on your sleep at work. But just getting out of town, seeing new things and riding new roads gets me excited. Riding is very restful. And with so much to see, how can you just stay home?A few years ago with the friends I made on Torches, we set out to find the perfect small town that doesn't have winter. Too many people out there to get you while riding, we prefer back roads with names instead of numbers, and family type restaurants instead of chains. Small towns where the library stays open later than the stores, where everybody knows your name, and knows you, but still likes you anyway. A place to call home, where taxes are low, and so is crime-why is it high taxes and high crime go hand in hand? A place where even as the new kid on the block you feel welcomed, and like you have been there for years. And we looked, for thousands of miles, only to come up empty. Weather always played a big part, you can't beat the roads in Wisconsin, if only it didn't have winter. The Rockies are beautiful and green, there must be a reason why they are and the desert isn't. So we started dropping things from our list of the perfect, and soon found out that where we live just turns out to be the best place. Not our #1 choice, but the best place for us. From Alabama to Oklahoma to Pennsylvania to California, home is where we live and it is the perfect place for us. Go figure....But a major consideration of moving to the perfect place is us. Any neighborhood I ever moved into changed when I arrived. Motorcycles started showing up, accepted by many, but changing the personality. When I was younger it was late parties-which when I had to get up early I could understand why they weren't welcome. Kids playing in the streets, and more cars parked in driveways, the neighborhoods grow, the town changes, and we forget that we do along with it. And that the small town we want, exists only in our dreams. If I could make a big income there, why would I live in a big city? And weren't all cities small towns once? If it's that good, why don't more people live there? And if this town is so perfect, why would they let me in? Truly, when seen through the eyes of one on vacation, things are different.How many times have we become disillusioned with the church, and decided to go elsewhere? Looking for that perfect church, which may be there until we show up. Not realizing, or not wanting to realize, that we need to change too. Maybe, just maybe we aren't as perfect as we like others to think. Maybe we are the problem, and the solution. And just like the perfect small town, there is a reason why some churches stay small, and some grow. The real question is do we stay small, or do we want to grow? So on a personal level, are you all you could be in Jesus? Have you matured to the point of perfection? Do the waters spread when you enter them, or is it people just avoiding you? And if you wonder why the church you are in isn't growing, could it be you?A few years back I asked a pastor how his year was. He told me they had met all their financial goals. And now I see why the same church is in trouble, and people are leaving. It isn't about money, or we all would be millionaires. And programs, policies, trendy meetings, and perspectives don't grow the church. ONLY Jesus does, and we are told that unless God builds the church, we labor in vain. Why do we think of church growth in numbers as opposed to Jesus? Why can't we fellowship where God wants us, not where we only feel comfortable? So when God led us to another church, some at the old church were mad, or hurt. "What did they do wrong? What did we do wrong?" When all we did was obey God, instead of the church.The reason too many are at odds with God are they confuse God and the church. We are the church, God's people, and we have a less than favorable history. When we fail so often God gets the blame, when really it is us, despite Him. So looking for the perfect church, just like looking for the perfect small town is often in vain. When we should be looking to God. Where the only perfection to ever be found is in Him. So..unhappy at church? Ask God, then act on His answer. You may find that you have to change, that the church is alright except for you. Or you may need to get involved, remember that great harvest with the few workers? Or maybe it's time to change, to go where God leads. In every case, it starts with you and God, and ends with your obedience, and again God.Those towns are out there. And I still visit them, yet find that San Diego is the perfect small town for me-can't beat the weather. Yet I still keep my eyes open while on vacation. Keep your eyes on God, on things on high, as He says, and let Him lead. Stop, look, and listen-the perfect small town or church you have been looking for may be right where you are the whole time.But in any case, sitting at home will never get you the chance to make the choice. Seek God, He's out there. The problem is you might be too! So seek perfection in Christ, not man. His way, not ours. You may be the only thing standing between you and perfection. Life can be a vacation-if only you go along.love with compassion,Mikematthew25biker.blogspot.com