Lesson’s learned—on the road. Gratitude—coming to know Jesus in others.

I found my rosary beads before I left the house. I may go months without having them with me, but when I travel, they are always in my pocket. Before I was gifted this rosary, I would listen to Handel’s Messiah during each departing flight. I wonder if others see me as a creature of habit?

In May 1990, while our group was preparing for a cultural exchange to East Africa, my professor advised we start a travel habit. She suggested it would help me use the flight as a time of transformation.

A few years back, I mentioned in the newsletter that now Bishop Gates of Massachusetts wrote of a lesson he learned when stationed in Russia at the State Department, a practice called “sit for the road.” Before embarking on travel or pilgrimage, or even along our ordinary way, it is good to “sit for the road.” I see now that modern-day travel affords us time to sit for the road while someone else moves us along at 575 mph.

It was not too long ago that Moses was directed by God to free his people from bondage and lead them out of Egypt to the promised land near the Jordan River (Deuteronomy 34:1–8). And, as you know, Naomi and her daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, set out to travel from the land of Moab to Judah, arriving in Bethlehem (Ruth 1:1–19).

Fast forward to the magi who set out to find the Messiah by following a star, a journey that may have taken them months (Matthew 2:1–2). Shortly thereafter, Mary and Joseph took baby Jesus to Egypt to save his life. Scripture gives an image of Mary on the back of a mule or donkey, with Jesus in her arms (Matthew 2:13–15). When he was twelve, Jesus traveled in a caravan from Nazareth to Jerusalem to visit the temple (Luke 2:41–49).

Jesus commands all who follow him to go forth into the world. I have come to appreciate that for some of us, leaving our town or state is a unique experience. For others, travel around the world is a yearly norm. In my travels, I have learned that transformation is not limited to what we experience at our intended destination. More so, it is the journey itself that is transformative … even if we are sitting, sitting for the road.

My rosary beads, just like Handel’s Messiah, guide my body, my mind, and my heart to let go of the anxiety or excitement of anticipation, and engage in deep gratitude. When I was younger, I would give thanks to God for the gift of travel and time away (while others toiled in my absence), and the joy of partnerships at home and work. My first major trip, in 1990, was made possible only by my grandmother’s commitment to fund my world travel as part of my education.

Today, my gratitude is for things both great and small. That is to say, I am grateful to God for my life, my family, my ministry, and the people God has called me to serve. I am grateful that each time I sit for the road, I can count on coming to know Jesus Christ more fully as my Lord and Savior. I am smiling as I wonder how God will engage me this time … it’s always a mystery before I step onto the ground to which I have been sent—sent to seek Christ in others, past, present, and future.

And my experience informs me that when I return home, I will be a better spouse, parent, pastor, and servant of the Lord.

It all begins with Sunday’s reading from the book of Isaiah, as I take the prophet’s words as my own: “Here am I; send me!” My heart is full of gratitude for the opportunity to travel, to seek Jesus, and to come to know him more fully because I “sat for the road.”

“Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.”

Somewhere over Poland, at 39,000 feet, 575 mph, soon to land in Tel Aviv.

In gratitude,

Mark+