Letter to a Young Traveller: 10 Reasons to Travel (a collaborate exercise)

The post on Ten Reasons *not* to Travel was, for some, lost in translation.

To write ten reasons not to travel is NOT to say that there aren't ten reasons TO travel. (Cop them negatives!) 'Twas interesting how many people thought that I believe that travel is out. If you knew me, you would know that this was not true. I like holidays.

I can only assume one of three things:

1. I am lousy at communication (which I will work on).
2. I am as judgmental as some said I am (which I will repent of).
3. I touched on a raw nerve. Or perhaps an idol.

Probably a little of all three. But what makes me think that travel is something of an idol is that no one disagreed or called me judgmental for my post on 10 Reasons *not* to go out for dinner. I think its exactly the same thought at heart. Anyway, it appears that travel is close to the nerve.

So I'm suggesting a collaborative effort.

Let's think up ten reasons TO travel. Suggest them to me. What were your reasons (if you traveled)? You can say anything you like in the comments section (as long as you are kind). Tell me your thoughts. I will process them by Wednesday, by way of my older (more negative) post, and suggest Ten Reasons TO travel.

While you are commenting on Travel, I here now suggest ten good reasons to go out to dinner tonight (provided your intentions be honourable!):

1. God is created things that is 'pleasing to the eye and good for food.'
2. God gave bread to 'strengthen man's heart'.
3. God gave wine to 'gladden the heart of man'.
4. You like steak. Rare. And with a Red.
   
5. You have a favourite place, and you want to go there.
6. You love someone and you wish to express it. (Date Night?)
7. You want to express the you are one in Christ with a former enemy.
8. To celebrate that someone was once lost, and now is found.
9. Because the Kingdom of God is a great outdoor banquet.
10. To take a homeless person and treat them like royalty.

Oh, the list could go on.

So -- onto travel: Your reasons for travel, should you wish to tell me?

(Oh, and if you linked to the last post, would you be so kind as to link to this one? Otherwise, its just an exercise in controversy.)

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Pic on Flickr by paololivorno.

Letter to a Young Diner: 10 Reasons *not* to go out to Dinner.

I've found it interesting how my last post was read. I apologise if I made it sound that one could never travel. As if I could make that claim anyway! But my post had a purpose: to challenge some of the reasons we give.

This post may clear up what I meant in the last last.

One anonymous person wrote in the comments:

I would hate to see you write a post about:
10 reasons to not go out to dinner.

I could think of 10:

1. To avoid eating dinner with your spouse;
2. To satisfy gluttony;
3. To cure your sadness;
4. To spend your inheritance in a week of culinary feasting;
5. To get drunk;
6. To save money (depending on where you live in the world!)
7. To buy friendship;
8. To gain approval for your expensive tastes;
9. If you are on the run from the law;
10. Because you believe it will satisfy you forever.

I can think of plenty of reasons to go out for dinner. But, like travel, most people don't need those reasons. They just go anyway.

If you can get this post, you'll get my meaning in the last one.

:)

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Pic by Juliarosen.

Letter to a Young Traveller: 10 Reasons *not* to travel.

This is the Second Last Post called: "Letter to a Young Traveller".

There is a final one, called: "Letter to a Young Traveller: Ten Reasons to Travel."

You can read them all by clicking HERE, and scrolling down.

I'm not dissing on travel per se. I married an American and so I travel. I'm just offering some weaknesses in the reasons we Christians give for travel. And if we have weak reasons, perhaps a moment of pause is worth taking. There may be 10 reasons to travel. It's worth thinking what those reasons are, and owning them before your good God.

Here are my top 10 reasons not to give for travel:

1. “I’m going to 'find myself' In France”.

You find yourself in God, not Paris.

2. “I want to be free from responsibility for a while”.

Freedom from responsibility almost always brings about selfishness. [Doesn’t it have to?] God is kind, and already gives us Sabbaths and Holydays, which is why we get 4 weeks holiday a year (2 in the US), and a Sunday each week. To go away for more than that is, to quote an old minister of mine: 'A long time without accountability'.

3. “I don’t like ‘X’, and a plane trip away is my ticket out”.

Where 'X' is something you hate: work, a relationship, life, debt etc. The trip is a means of escape. The problem is that you always take you with you. 'Escape' is not the answer. Trust in God is.

4. “I just want to see if I can rely on God on my own”.

The Bible doesn't endorse lone pilgrimage as a means to growth. On the contrary, it says to trust where you are. What you presently do it the key to spiritual growth. 1 Cor 7:17-23:

Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. 21 Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.

There was a time [during period of the Roman persecutions], where to stay in community despite persecutions and serve the Body of Christ in a spirit of sacrifice was the only means to grow. Now [in a period of spiritual lethargy], we think that the only way to grow is to Go?

5. “My girlfriend/boyfriend is traveling, and I want to join Him/Her”.

Traveling with just your partner [or even in a small group] is a married activity and it belongs in marriage. I have thoughts in this related to Genesis 2:24. It was worth hearing the argument. Get married, rather than travel with just your mate. People often say: but its OK, we won't be tempted. My answer: Then why are you dating? But my biggest concern is what it signals to younger and less mature Christians.

6. “I need to see Europe before I die etc”.

This may not be true. It is worth pondering what you think the New Heavens and the New Earth will be. I think that this may be a statement of mistrust. I will explore the ‘Riviera’ God has planned in the age to come. The only reason to say this is that deep down you do not believe that you God's Heaven will be good. C.S Lewis in The Weight of Glory:

‘Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.’

7. “I have already booked, so I have to go.”

If it isn’t right for you to go, do not assume that simply because you have a ticket that you should go. Don’t blow your life on $3000. That’s like parents of a bride saying to a young bride who knows its not right: "you have to get married; you have the reception booked."

8. I've saved up $10,000 for Travel. I have to go.

See Point 7. Money cannot be the driver of your decisions.

9. Americans know how to do things better than us.

;)

10. “My experience of life is too limited. Exotic Travel is something I therefore have to do”.

Certainly, there is value in seeing more. St Augustine famously said: "The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page." However, I think that this is and will always be true of each of us, all the time. It will even be true of you after you come back from your European Vacation. You probably ought not to see travel as the answer to this. Isn’t the BIG experience of life found in knowing God? Isn’t that exotic?

Discuss.

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Pic on Flickr by moandia.

Letter to a Young Traveller: Extra Tip

How about this one?

12. KEEP UP YOUR REGULAR GIVING FOR THE WHOLE TIME AWAY.

There will be many temptations while you travel to give up the normal disciplines. One of them will be your generosity to others. You will be tempted to think about how to save and spend the money on yourself. But how powerful it would be if you resisted?

Let's say that while you were at home, you gave 10% of your earnings to the local church, to mission and to the poor. My tip: keep giving that same amount to your local church etc while you are away. And give even more to people and mission in the countries you visit too. This, of course, will require pre-planning, and deep discipline.

Any other late thoughts?

(10 Reasons not to give for travel will be posted on Monday.)

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Pic on Flickr by natmandu.

Letter to a Young Traveller: Eleven Tips (#9-11)

Read all 11 points by clicking HERE.

9. SOME TRAVELLER’S FAITH DOES NOT SURVIVE

Know that many people take a step back in their relationship with God, most 'mark time', and only a few come back with a stronger in faith. This, of course, is my impression. If you know this is possibly true, then you can determine to be the one who comes back stronger. The reason that most people mark time or go back is that they don’t plan ahead. They plan their ticket, their route, their accommodation, their work, but they don’t plan to their spiritual life. Take a read of Luke 14:25-35.

10. BRING A BIBLE AND SEVERAL GOOD BOOKS

First thing to pack is NOT your toothbrush. It’s your BIBLE. Buy a smaller one if you need. Read it every day. Read maybe these books:

• Daniel [How to live in a hostile to God world]
• James [Faith without works is dead],
• Jonah [God is God even in Tarshish]
• The Psalms [Honest prayer].
• Luke [Jesus travel narrative: from Galilee through Judea and Samaria to the cross, with lots of calls to radical discipleship].

Maybe even print out the whole book, so that you can read it and highlight good things on the planes and trains etc.

Plus take a couple of good Christian books. This can really shape a trip as well and is great for each plane leg. In reality some say it is difficult to read just the bible, but a book AND bible is great.

11. COME BACK HUMBLE, NOT PROUD

Don’t come back and be all disappointed that ‘people are still the same’. Especially at your Church. People will look at all your photos, but they will not have had the experience that you have had. Come back loving the idea of being more involved in church than you already are! In other words, don’t come back arrogant about your experiences. Come back humble.

That's it. Discuss.

Next: 10 Reasons not to give for Travel.

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Pic on Flickr by Loungerie.

Letter to a Young Traveller: Eleven Tips (#5-8)

I've revised #5 (there were two separate points), and then added one more tip. Hope you don't mind. Reminds me of Douglas Adam's famous Four Part Trilogies. Here you go...

Read all 11 points by clicking HERE.

5. KEEP CONTACT WITH CHRISTIANS

Keep in contact with a group of committed Christian people [who commit to you]. Get them to check in with you regularly and ask you tough questions. Maybe the same tough questions each time. And make the last one: "Have you lied about any of the other questions". And seek out some new Christian friends on travels. It is people who make trips memorable. Meet people from other parts of the world who love the Lord. They will hold more influence for you than the view of the Grand Canyon. Seek for it, and pray for it.

6. GO TO A PROTESTANT CHURCH ON SUNDAY

As much as you can, go to a protestant Church every Sunday. Plan your travels around it. Then don’t be too critical of it [unless it’s really bad], but bring greetings in Christ’s name from your Church. If you land in one place for a time [which many do], then research churches before you go. If you want any help with Churches, email someone who may know.

7. WRITE HOME IN A HELPFUL WAY (Don't encourage envy)

When you write an email home, don’t write things to make them want to join you. Don’t encourage envy by writing a list of places that you have been and why it’s been the BEST place, and why your friends need to travel so they can be with you, or traveling like you.

Write instead about what things you are thanking God for, and matters with which you are struggling with God. Write about God. Write about people you meet who need prayer. Write about things that trouble you, like sin and injustice, rather than simply the things that are fun.

Write in such a way that you show that you seek a 'better country' -- one that cannot be visited with a passport. Write about life – what you are doing, and give us an inner view on what’s happening. Think about whether you are causing envy. We don't just want pictures of you on a beach. We want to know how you are growing. We want to yearn for the world that the writer of Hebrews speaks about in Hebrews 11:13-16.

8. KNOW THE POWER OF ‘UNACCOUNTABILTY’

Know what you are doing is very 'freeing'! That may be sound good, but it comes with a profound downside. It is important to know that travel often means that you have no real accountability and no real responsibility [except be at the airport on time.].

This may sound good, but responsibility and accountability are what God uses to teach us godliness and humility. It’s what he uses to chisel out in us the life he desires for us. I'm not sure what you are going to be doing, but it’s interesting to note that in travel, your only concern is yourself. You decide what you want to do, etc...

This can give you a distorted view on life. Many come back thinking that this life [working, church, accountability] is the ‘bad life’, and the travel life is the good one. But you will probably learn more in the pain and responsibility of the selfless life than in the pleasure and unaccountability of travel. You may remember more of a vacation. But you will learn more by staying at home.

Discuss.

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Pic on Flickr by toomuchcoffeegirl.

Letter to a Young Traveller: Ten Tips (#1-4)

Read all the points by clicking HERE.

Ten Thoughts and Tips. Here are the first four:

1. KNOW THAT GOD IS GOD EVERYWHERE.

Know that God is God in every corner of the world. He is not just present. They invented a word that only God can fill: Omnipresent. He is in that cafe in Paris. He is on your boat from Morocco. He is in your Ashram in India. He is on safari in Kruger. He is on that beach in Mexico. He is in your hostel in Ho Chi Minh City. He is in the Internet cafe in Idaho. Read Jonah before you go. And Jeremiah 23:24. You cannot escape him.

Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.

2. KNOW THAT THIS IS GOD’S PLANET

Know that this is God’s world. Wake up every morning and thank him for it. Live for him in every corner of it. Treat God's world in the way that God desires for it. Obey him in every quarter. He searches his world as he searches hearts. But also know that most people in God’s World do not treat him as God of his world. So go in with wide eyes. And call a sin a sin. Read 1 Chronicles 28:8:

And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.

3. LOVE JESUS.

Love him with all your heart. If you don’t think that you do now, then cancel your ticket. Sort out your relationship with him before you go. It is most likely that your relationship with God will probably not get better because you are overseas. And no, you are not the exception to the rule.

4. BE AN EVANGELIST

Defend Jesus, and defend God’s church wherever you go. Make it your aim to tell most people you meet that you are a follower of Jesus, and that you have your life in him. And tell them quickly. You won't tell them at 11PM in some bar after a few beers. Better to tell them in your areoplane seat. Don’t be another selfish traveler, be an ambassador for God.

5 more to come...
Then 5 reasons not to give for travel.

Discuss.

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Pic on Flickr by Giancarlo rado.

A Letter to a Young Traveller

If you want to read all the Tips and posts on this (There will be at least 4, then click HERE.)

Many years ago, I penned some thoughts for a young man who was about to travel overseas. He was a young guy who saw travel as an answer to his yearnings and difficulties. He had just bought the tickets, was planning the adventure, and he was dreaming of the possibilities that lay ahead for him.

I realised as we spoke that I'd asked dozens of people if they had 'planned for their travel', and they invariably said Yes. I had asked: what are your plans? And they spoke only of their itinerary, rather than a plan to grow as a Christian and as a person.

I wrote to him to readdress that imbalance.

You will see that some of my advice concurs with the thoughts of Alain de Botton, from The Art of Travel. He says:

Aside from love, few things attract more longing the prospect of a holiday. During the ordinary working months, exhausted by our jobs, and family routines, wearied by the weather, the holidays stand out on the horizon of our frayed lives, as an oasis of happiness and repose.

And yet the business of going on holiday is rarely talked about apart from a bluntly practical point of view. There is no end of talk about where we should go. What gets less attention is ‘why’? What are we searching for? How much do our travels measure up to the longings that inspired them?

I decided that I’d try to find happiness there (in the Mediterranean). Everything was exactly as the brochure had promised. But there was one thing that wasn’t as I had hoped. But this wasn’t something that I could complain to anyone about.

At the middle of Day 1, a troubling realization began to dawn on me.

That I had inadvertently brought myself along with me.

Nice.

Would you like to read that correspondence?

They are 'Ten Tips for Travel' and 'Ten Reasons not to give for Travel'.

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Pic on Flickr by stoopwafels.