Technically I have been to twenty countries and 47 states. Next week it will be all of the “lower 48” states visited because I intend to visit Delaware before I visit with my sister’s family in Maryland. I passed through 20 states on this trip across the country alone, but I didn’t really stop and visit every state I passed through because I had been to several of them before.
From Left to Right – Danville, PA; Evanston, IL; New York; Zion Nat’l Park.
I had never before considered traveling in the U.S. to be something of much importance or very intriguing for me. However, this trip has been different. When going international, I feel like it is impossible to feel completely prepared which is what makes it feel like an adventure. For me, International travel has always taken a modicum of courage and faith. Yet this domestic trip cross country was very similar to international travel because it was initiated by a combination of my best friend and roommate’s death and a call to action by God which I had been ignoring, or at least postponing.
In short, when I left on this trip, I was still in the throes of mourning…unable to think straight, much less plan and following answers to prayers which is something I had never done before. When I left Arizona I knew I was in no state to travel by my own wits, instead, I was stepping out on faith that God would not only guide me but provide for me where I didn’t have the wherewithal to do so for myself, due to my compromised stated. What happened over the next month was miraculous.
As I traveled, people provide for nearly all of my necessities (other than gas money and some of my food) and many luxuries as well. Plus, I was able to share my heart and receive words of encouragement along the way. My faith in God’s grace was strengthened by their kindness, love, and generosity. Plus my courage grew as I continued to step forward in places where I had feared to take action previously. I have long ago learned, going backward never provides the safety we think it will, so I continued forward in the face of my fear and uncertainties; learning how to walk in faith bit by bit.
By the time I got to Wyoming, I had sufficient courage and faith-practice to spend my first night sleeping alone in my car close to nature. Today and 20 states later, I have become most comfortable with traveling with just what fits in my car and I am realizing the amazing convenience of this kind of mobility. I also learned how many loving people I have relationships with and how many good people I have had the honor of meeting and knowing in my life. If I gave my time, energy, and attention to them … I wonder how much more rich and fulfilling my life would feel and be in the long run.
I learned that running away to see the world made me stronger spiritually, mentally, and emotionally but coming home taught me what really matters is sharing the stories of that growth with people you love while being of service to them.
