Travel, there truly is nothing like getting out and away from your normal. It can be refreshing, relaxing, exhilarating, challenging, and even stressful. For me, travel is a big up arrow. Planes, trains, automobiles take me away to lands awaiting exploration and discovery. What roadside oddities can be found along the way and what exciting adventures await at the final destination? Only time will tell. 

Because of my planner, type A personality you would think that the joy is in the planning and executing of said plan. However, I have recently walked through a small group at my church that helped me to identify “drivers” or areas that, when I am functioning in them, energize and excite me. What words do I find at the top of the list? Adventure and travel. I am not sure these words accurately describe how I feel even now as I type this from row 9 seat D in the air somewhere over the southwestern United States of America. 

It seems that my pattern has been to get out of town at least once each month…even if it’s a short drive across the Red River to visit family. Each time I leave I dearly miss those I leave behind especially Abby and Willa Dean. But doesn’t missing those who stay behind make it that much sweeter to come home? More than anything when I am on the road, in the air or just chilling at a hotel or resort words spill out into my computer. It seems that by removing the comforts of home and the distractions that await me daily I can clearly hear what my Heavenly Father has to say. He uses my drivers of adventure and travel to speak to me, to encourage me, to refresh me and to affirm in me what He is calling me to do. 

This adventure took me to the Los Angeles, California area. Here I met up with an amazing team of educators and administrators to work with a school and validate their accreditation, which is basically confirming all that they are doing in their Christian school. The administrators, teachers, staff and parents are precious people working together to educate both the spirit and mind of the equally precious students. They are making a difference in their corner of the Los Angeles area. I love being able to participate in travel like this. As someone in Christian education it is important to encourage others and share the information that you have learned in hopes that it spurs others on to greatness. Isn’t that what discipleship is all about? 

I really enjoy this type of travel because it is always evident that even though human beings are in charge of organizing and orchestrating the team that will meet and work together it is ALWAYS God ordained. With every trip I have taken like this one the right people are always assembled and we are always able to encourage and challenge our host school and often the team members leave encouraged and challenged in our educational practices, personally and spiritually. This trip came with a bonus encounter. On our final morning we took an Uber and met a driver that was hilarious and in need of encouragement and affirmation. Through our conversations in the short time we were with her we learned about how she is working to not only change her life but make an impact on every person who takes a ride in her car. This encounter ended with all of us praying over her and she blessed us with a prayer in the parking lot at the school. We may never see her again, but we know that we were meant to ride in her car that day, listen to her story, and pray with her. God was truly in every detail of this trip.

My all time favorite travel is when I can bolt out of town with Abby or a good friend. You know those kinds of trips where you can take the long way and still feel like you are making the best time? Where you get lost in a beautiful combination of your favorite road trip playlist and an endless sea of conversations about a variety of topics that all intertwine. As I type this I feel that excitement for the next road trip and I haven’t even landed at my connecting location to arrive home yet. This type of travel is good for the soul…well at least it is good for mine. 

Abby and I were able to take a trip to Disney before Christmas and we even were able to take my bonus daughter. It was a girls only trip and we had a wonderful adventure driving across the southeastern United States of America. I love the drive between my home state and Florida. I love how the landscape changes along the way. The trees change from oaks, redbuds, and mid-west pine trees to taller southern pines, magnolias, and those beautiful trees with the Spanish moss and wide roots buried in the swampy land of the south. I love exploring the random stops for a restroom break that end in ordering a lobster po-boy in a gas station- restaurant with LSU tiled flooring. (This would be where I insert my BOOMER SOONER while standing on said logo) Playing the alphabet game using billboards and mileage signs only to be stuck on Q for close to 60 miles in rural areas. Stopping randomly to explore the Infinity Space Center in Mississippi and of course I cannot forget my favorite road sign that pops up in eastern Mississippi, it’s a bear crossing sign! I do not know why I love this sign, but I intentionally look for it every trip. 

All this to say that I fully believe that you should get away from home and experience all that our world has to offer. Whether that is a trip to the mountains, the beach, a cruise, a campsite or somewhere in-between. Be intentional to step away from your normal routine and connect with yourself, your family, your friends, or coworkers. Then while you are away, put your phone down. Stop scrolling and enjoy the company of the people or the environment of the spaces that you are visiting. What can you see? What can you learn about yourself? What can you learn about others? 

So where will you travel to next? I would love to hear about your upcoming plans or a fun story from a recent adventure!