Traveling Together

The emotions you feel when you are preparing to go on a trip may vary greatly depending on whom you are traveling with. There are some people who are fun to travel with. They seem to know all of the best places to find a special treat, where to go for the best views, and even seem to happen upon the most peaceful spots at just the time you need to take a break.

Then there are other folks who seem especially adept at raising the anxiety of everyone who travels with them. They are constantly reminding their fellow travelers how many calories are in everything they eat. They notice and point out the flaws—a broken window, a piece of trash, or a dead tree—as the group stands before a magnificent vista. Perhaps most annoying, they never seem to know when to stop talking.

If you have made a few trips with a poor traveling companion, you may be tempted to think that it is best to travel alone. It is true that you can cover more distance when you are unencumbered by the companionship of others; but you miss so much when you experience things alone.

As you continue to prepare for this journey through Lent, let me encourage you to befriend someone. Invite them to join you on this journey to hope. Ask them to be your traveling companion. You may want to make a point of speaking to them each Sunday before or after worship. You may send them notes or e-mails of encouragement along the way. This can be a wonderful opportunity to deepen your spiritual relationship with one another and with Christ.

Your journey through life is not supposed to be a solo experience. As God has adopted you as his child and invited you to join his family, God has given you brothers and sisters to travel alongside you. The people with whom we travel can make good times better and hard times less difficult. You can do the same thing for others.

Let me encourage you to consider who is with you on your journey to hope. How are you helping one another discover the blessings God has prepared for you along the way? Let no one get in the way of anyone experiencing the life-giving power of Jesus.