As I stumble through the house, looking for a book to pack, I wonder how many people go on vacation ill-prepared for the journey. How many return physically, mentally, or spiritually exhausted?
Travel always seems to take a physical toll on a person…especially long trips. Even a vacation can leave your energy zapped by the time you come home. But when meetings are involved, it seems the fatigue can mount. Most people make special accommodations to relieve the physical and mental stresses of travel, but I don’t think very many people prepare for a spiritual renewal.
Whether I am packing for an overnight retreat or a 3-week-long trip overseas, I always pack the essentials: clothing, my camera, snacks, toiletries and stuff like that. Without putting much real thought into it, I inventory my mental list of “miscellaneous” things to pack, such as whether I will need sunscreen and a swimsuit, or certain meeting manuals. Will I need business attire or casual wear? Extra shoes?
It is at this time when I decide which form of nourishment I will be packing. And when I say nourishment, I don’t mean of the edible kind. I am referring to spiritually nourishing. Will I have long bouts of time to read, or short, sporatic dabbles of free time? The answer will help me decide between a short book of prayers, or the novel that we are discussing in my book club?
I grab “Bounce” and toss it into my suitcase. I think I am going to make a point to find some quiet time…some solace…during this next trip.
Tags: prayer life, retreat center, sister's life, spiritual renewal, spirituality
