The Link between Travelling and Spiritual Life

~ Personal Experience

In one way or another, we all come to conclusions about the connection travelling and the spiritual life (journey). I believe there is something about travelling, and moving that just helps get your spirit, soul and mind at ease ~ levelled. Is it because we have legs? I don’t know.  But, I am sure there is something about wondering hearts in us that want to move around, see and meet all there is to in this small wide world.

What to do when things don’t work? Plans don’t go as you wish? Now, I know the following; as much as you believe in things, plan to work, and work hard to achieve them with every little mustard seed you have, you achieve.

The Connection Between Travel and Faith 

Travelling, and moving are more than what we see. It is that deeper level, that meaning that we bring to such moments that faith is built and strengthened. Wondering and praying deep down, heartedly, about the places, people and experiences and what will become of them. 

Are you planning to travel this summer or next? Working on your plans on what is and what is coming? Let’s say, you are working on those papers but want to be there. You want everything to be right when that time comes, wondering if all is well. You have hopes, dreams, expectations and goals ~ may be a to-do list. That is faith. 

But, there is more to it and it is very simple. I go to places, where I meet strangers treating me best, and at that moment we just realise He is watching over me, He is in control. And with that, I know that the people I meet on the way and, the experiences I gain, are all for a reason.

Personal Growth Through Exploration

It has been a long time since I first understood what moving, and travelling is all about. That was 24 years. Wow! 24 years ago, I first experienced what moving is all about. Having people, families and strangers gathered for the farewell. Leaving the people, friends, places and what you know for others. New adventures, people, opportunities, friendships, etc.

As time went on, I learnt to grow with it. Going to boarding schools, moving to visit family and relatives and later to college. I would love to live and be with what I know, or I should just dare and believe in what the next step will take. And that was all it took to believe and grow that muscle.

 Deepening Faith on the Road (air)

As a young girl growing up in an African family, it didn’t take much to realise the impact moving has on a child, a person. And yes, with one question in mind, when is the next move?

But see, as much as I wished to move over and again, it was much later that I was taught to fall in love with moving and change, even if it was casually. There it was introduced in my family, a move to my grandma’s place once every year on Christmas. We either travelled to her, 147 miles away or she came over. With my younger siblings being born later, we travelled to my grandmama’s place, 15 minutes away in a small village. Little by little, I fell in love with moving, seeing those places and yes, experiencing that journey. 

With that expectation of the new journey, travel, and safari, I learnt to endure when things weren’t going as I planned. Delays of visa, missed opportunities, missing flights, being sick before travels, late paperwork. I knew and held fast to what I knew would come. Because, for as much as things weren’t going as planned, much more happened  

The Ultimate Spiritual Life Journey

I would love to pinpoint what believing does for someone. However, it is the personal experience that one undergoes that brings meaning to the journey. 

Answer the following questions for yourself;

Do you believe there is more than what we see when travelling or moving?
Do you believe you can see His Hand, and heart and experience His love as you live this life?
Do you see Him moving with you? After all, moving is the core character of being human.
What about the people we meet, the lessons we learn, are they for our better, bring us closer to Him and stronger in believing him?
Or have you chosen to use them as an excuse to further not believe that He is?
Can you see, know or understand something or someone (Him) when you don’t believe it is (He IS)?

God is real. Faith is key. You believe to see. And contrary to everything we grow up believing, like, seeing the sun, it is a good day. With faith, it is a good day even when the sun hasn’t yet dawned. It is not feigning ignorance, it is the trust that all is well for He is in control. And because He is, we are, and anything is possible, choosing to believe.

 From choosing to believe everything has a purpose to not doing so, faith falls to one thing: You choose. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” And yes, unbelief is surely one of them. Open your mind, be expectant of Him, believe HE is, coming as you are. He will meet you there at SURRENDER.