I have a habit of buying plane tickets and planning trips that are far from relaxing. I do my best to hit every point of interest, carving out time for hikes and activities throughout the rest of the day. The truth is, my trips don’t come with a lot of sleep or relaxation, but I don’t mind. That’s not my intention.
Many times, my intention is to reconnect with my faith.
My relationship with God is something that is constantly evolving as I discover more about my identity, the world and His promises. Through it all, my faith is always renewed through my travels.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
I work a rewarding job in a field that I love. I love volunteering and keeping up with organizations that are close to my heart. I’m always on Twitter, learning about what’s happening in the world and getting new recommendations for shows to watch on Netflix in my free time. Plus, I’m married to an awesome dude who’s been by my side since I had braces and in love with a beagle mix who is too cute for words.
To summarize: I’m busy. I get caught up in worldly things, which are often disappointing. Many times I find myself relying too much the world, and my connection with God weakens.
When it’s been a few weeks and I haven’t found time to go outside much or explore a new place, I don’t feel like myself. My creativity is diminished. A feeling of exhaustion haunts me. I often just search for a temporary solution, like a long nap, always knowing what will really fix my fatigue: travel.
What better way to praise God than exploring His creations?
I feel more connected to a rolling hill than a church pew; I feel a greater sense of belonging seeking the world on my own rather than watching from a distance. At times, I feel more connected to the mountains than to people.
Time and time again, I hear God speak to me when I travel. My greatest form of praise comes in looking over the mountain I just tackled, taking a breath and saying “Thank you.”
Through my faith journey, I’ve realized travel gives me what I need – hope, tranquility, character, humility, courage, confidence…. and a new definition of who I am and who God is. All I can do is surround myself with what renews my spirit, connects me to God and helps me to walk like Jesus; for me, that’s new adventures and exploring God’s creations. By seeing and experiencing new places, new faces, new landscapes and new cultures, I am uplifted. I’m able to be the best version of myself.
I am a traveler at heart, and I will never regret spending money on a plane ticket to renew my relationship with God. When I am fed up or worn out by the heavy weights of this broken world on my shoulders, He whispers to me: “Go.”
Rachel Enerson 