The days leading up to (and following) Thanksgiving are among the busiest travel days of the year. When we travel, we almost always know our destination and we know, more or less, how much time we need to get there. But on the journey called “life,” we also need to know our real destination and not just one we dream about. Unlike traditional modern travel, we do not know how much time we have for the journey of “life.” For some it may be very long, for others it may be much shorter. Our Christian faith is constantly reminding us that the length of the journey is not so important – although we worry about it a lot. What is important is what we do during the journey.
With conventional travel, we often have the company of people we know well, but we might also travel with virtual strangers. It is a gift to share travel with people who are fully aware of their surroundings, fully aware of the people around them, and willing to admire the beauty of a morning sky or the loveliness of trees or buildings they pass on their way. They remind us that the journey and the destination are part of one reality. The “going” is as important as the “arriving” and they contribute to each other.
Let us pray. “Please, God, during these busy days help us to be aware of our surroundings, the people with whom we are ‘traveling,’ and the beauty which will mark the journey. Keep us grateful for each and every blessing you will send our way. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
