Did you enjoy your holiday? It's a common enough question at this time of the year, so how do you answer it?
Would you praise the accommodation, the flights, the weather, even the value for money? Probably all of these. But they are memories which will fade. What about something that would bring lasting enjoyment; the knowledge that your holiday helped someone to earn a decent living and escape from poverty?
Christians have more reason than most to take this aspect of their holiday seriously. The Prayer and Campaigns Director of Tearfund, Stephen Rand, says, 'The Good Samaritan was a traveller who recognised the need of someone he came across. Jesus told the story to point out the reality of what it means to love our neighbour as ourselves. If we dare to ask the question: 'Who is my neighbour?', we will surely include in the answer those people who live in the places we go to on holiday.'
