Holy Saturday is the day it appears humanity has triumphed over God, making evil the victor. It is the moment of utter folly as the human soul doubles down in regret, doubt, and shame.
How Spiritual Direction is like having a Travel Partner
Travel is the only way to have an adventure. But to embark on the act of travel is no easy task. There is a lot involved in planning for a trip, not to mention getting from point A to point B without a hitch.
I’ve traveled my fair share in my life, especially while we were living internationally with small children. What I have learned through countless plane, train, taxi, boat, and tuk-tuk rides is that, if we are truly honest, no one likes to travel alone.
Travel is stressful, taxing, and filled with unexpected bumps in the road. On a recent flight from Florida back home, my flight was significantly delayed, I missed my connecting flight, and the late flight was canceled, leaving me to rent a car for my final leg of the trip at 11 p.m.—and night driving is not my favorite these days.
To say I was exhausted and burnout was an understatment. By the time I crashed into bed, my nerves were shot. My bad travel experience discolored my overall trip, and all I could think is that I’d wished I wasn’t alone through it all.
Most of us know this feeling, and we know when we have someone with us to navigate mishaps, disappointments, and obstacles in our travel, the overall experience somehow becomes lighter. Our bad stories transform into a “remember that time” funny memories and friendship deepens. We come away with lessons, growth, and memories. And most importantly, we want to travel again.
When we travel with someone, the bad things don’t seem so bad, and the good times are even more memorable, and the overall journey feels successful even if it was filled with mayhem.
A spiritual director is a travel companion. They journey with you as you navigate your faith adventure. They listen, encourage, stay with you when things get bumpy, offer guidance, compassion, and help.
Why spiritual directors are nice to have along for the journey:
- Travel gets lonely. It’s nice to share the sights, sounds, and experiences with another person who appreciates them as much as you do.
- Four eyes in an airport or foreign country are better than two when looking for signs, delays, gates, directions, lodging, or food.
- A travel companion provides a sense of felt safety when exploring new cultures and places.
- If you get lost, you’re not alone. Having a partner to navigate and find a way out of a sticky situation is a lot less scary with a friend than on your own.
- International travel often means navigating in a foreign language. Having someone who speaks the language or listen together adds ease and courage when speaking.
- Trying new foods, customs, activites are more fun with another person.
- Customs and bag checks can cause heightened emotions, such as fear, anger, irritation, or impatience. We all have to go through baggage, but it’s a lighter experience when shared—especially if you need to vent.
- Luggage gets cumbersome after a lot of walking; having another person to lessen the load is better than feeling you have to carry the burden all alone.
- ID checkpoints in some countries can be stressful. A companion verifies your identity and stands alongside you, supporting you when needed.
- Losing money, ID, or credit cards isn’t as impossible a task to overcome when someone is with you to help you through the process and pick up the tab when needed.
- Doubting our abilities and capabilities in travel are inevitable. A companion gives us courage and competence where we didn’t know we had it.
Traveling alone can be lonely and filled with scary possibilities, and so can the spiritual journey. I have found that most people are scared of delving into their deepest longings, faith doubts, fears, or even becoming their whole self because to take the trip feels too treacherous, scary, or impossible, so they don’t even bother buying the ticket.
Inviting a spiritual director to journey with you is like having a travel agent and a friend along for the ride. They look out for you, listen, pay attention to what’s up ahead, offer compassion without judgment, and support you in whatever setbacks and complications arise.
The faith journey is never meant to be travelled alone.
It’s better to have a partner than go it alone. Ecclesiastes 4:9 (MSG)
Share each other’s burdens. Galatians 6:2
Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. Galatians 6:2 (MSG)
Don’t miss out on buying your ticket to your faith adventure!
Schedule a free consultation for spiritual direction today!
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