Ed's Vacation
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series II Cycle A
Ed and Darlene were looking forward to their summer vacation. They were fortunate to find reasonable rates at an exclusive resort area that they had never been to before and in all probability would never be able to visit again. They were thrilled with the opportunity.
"Now we will see how the other half lives," Darlene told Ed once the reservations were made. New clothing was bought. "We want to look nice and fit in," Darlene reasoned.
Together they read the tour book, finding the family restaurants, golf courses, and other places of interest that the whole family would enjoy. They studied the hotel brochure. The kids were excited about the indoor and outdoor pool as well as the health club. In looking over the brochure they knew they had never stayed anywhere quite so nice.
The day arrived to leave for vacation. Ed and Darlene left on their dream vacation. It would be a long day driving, but it would be well worth it once they arrived at their destination. The kids were even excited.
Upon arriving they stopped at the Welcome Center. Ed always likes to stop to pick up sightseeing information as well as the occasional discount coupon for area sights and restaurants.
As they were leaving the Welcome Center, brochures in hand, they encountered a group of people handing out blue papers. Ed took one, politely thanking the person. Several hours later, after checking into the resort, Ed was reading the information he had picked up at the Welcome Center and found the blue piece of paper. What he read disturbed him. Darlene told him simply to throw the paper away and forget it. "We're on vacation now," she told him. Ed could not.
This resort community, a favorite retirement area as well as a vacation destination, paid workers less than the minimum wage. It did not seem right to Ed. Some of the wealthiest people in the region lived there year round; other well-off people vacationed there, while just several miles inland lived some of the poorest people in the state. The paper encouraged vacationers to leave tips for the workers, many of whom were living in or near poverty. Ed was appalled. How could people so well off treat other people so badly?
Not only did Ed tip the workers he encountered in the couple of days he vacationed there, but he also found the addresses of state and local government officials to whom he would write once they returned home. Ed knew it just wasn't right. Something had to be done to help the workers, and he was willing to do all he could.
"Now we will see how the other half lives," Darlene told Ed once the reservations were made. New clothing was bought. "We want to look nice and fit in," Darlene reasoned.
Together they read the tour book, finding the family restaurants, golf courses, and other places of interest that the whole family would enjoy. They studied the hotel brochure. The kids were excited about the indoor and outdoor pool as well as the health club. In looking over the brochure they knew they had never stayed anywhere quite so nice.
The day arrived to leave for vacation. Ed and Darlene left on their dream vacation. It would be a long day driving, but it would be well worth it once they arrived at their destination. The kids were even excited.
Upon arriving they stopped at the Welcome Center. Ed always likes to stop to pick up sightseeing information as well as the occasional discount coupon for area sights and restaurants.
As they were leaving the Welcome Center, brochures in hand, they encountered a group of people handing out blue papers. Ed took one, politely thanking the person. Several hours later, after checking into the resort, Ed was reading the information he had picked up at the Welcome Center and found the blue piece of paper. What he read disturbed him. Darlene told him simply to throw the paper away and forget it. "We're on vacation now," she told him. Ed could not.
This resort community, a favorite retirement area as well as a vacation destination, paid workers less than the minimum wage. It did not seem right to Ed. Some of the wealthiest people in the region lived there year round; other well-off people vacationed there, while just several miles inland lived some of the poorest people in the state. The paper encouraged vacationers to leave tips for the workers, many of whom were living in or near poverty. Ed was appalled. How could people so well off treat other people so badly?
Not only did Ed tip the workers he encountered in the couple of days he vacationed there, but he also found the addresses of state and local government officials to whom he would write once they returned home. Ed knew it just wasn't right. Something had to be done to help the workers, and he was willing to do all he could.
