Sometimes what I really need to do is run away. Travel can hold the ticket to a clearer, better perspective.
over Alaska
I may go to a faraway place and detox from the real world. But there are closer, shorter voyages that achieve similar, lifesaving results.
Drive 200 miles to see an old friend. Spend the hours alone in the car. Singing with the radio. Turning it off to discuss things with God. Questioning. Talking it over. Being heard. Listening.
Or take a long lunch to catch up with someone I haven’t seen in a while. Break down the state of the world as we know it. Pick up where we left off as if the time never passed at all.
Or simply bow out of the room for five minutes. Walk around the block. Step back. Breathe. Remember what’s important. Re-engage with peace.
on the beach in Bali
My favorite psychology professor in grad school once told my class a secret. He said he recommended depressed people go to the mountains or the ocean. I imagine the plains, desert, or forest would work as well.
It is in such places they could come face to face with how small they are and how big God is. Surrender to it and find refuge. Then come home able to move—even if ever so slightly—forward.
Perspective is easy to lose, but not so hard to regain either.
Here you thought it was gone forever, but look. There it is a few miles up ahead.
God’s love is meteoric,
His loyalty astronomic,
His purpose titanic,
His verdicts oceanic.
Yet in His largeness
nothing gets lost;
Not a man, not a mouse,
slips through the cracks. Psalm 36:5-6 The Message
The incredible photos in this post are compliments of Janis and Jeff Jones, my traveling friends who see the value in venturing.
Traveling with the Jones
Between the two of them, they’ve traveled to 80 different countries, all 50 states, and 175 cruise ports around the world.
“Travel, for us, is about personal growth,” says Janis. “It gets us out of our routines and our comfort zones; it broadens our horizons and breaks down our misconceptions. Through our travels, we’ve found people are basically the same despite living under vastly different circumstances and cultures.”
To travel that much would be nice, but… expensive… and with four children currently aged 5 and under?!
I’d rather face the world from home for a while.
That said, we did just go on a small vacation to the Smoky Mountains last week. On the whole, not a bad vacation. Of course, life is always there waiting when you return, so I don’t know how much of a rejuvenation it was.
As for perspective, I only have to look into my children’s eyes and I see everything.
I am constantly reminding myself and others about priorities and perspectives, that God comes first. As I wrote in a recent blog post, you will ALWAYS be second… even if you don’t want to be or think you are.
Good point, WA. I don’t travel as much as I’d like, but I do consider even a break from the normal routine to be a chance to gain perspective. Love your reminder that looking into your children’s eyes does that too.
And yes, compared to God, we will always be second. But, wow, what a wonderful place to be! I’ll take it!
Yes, thank you Aimee! Getting lost in God’s wonder does indeed put things into perspective. I was just saying this to myself yesterday while reading “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young. Anxiety and depression wraps you up in yourself, give it up to Him, put it into perspective. Thank you for this gift today.
Thank you for reading, Joy!
I find this peace and perspective in working with my animals. Whether I am riding or training my horse or working with cattle out at the feed yard. My animals center me and give my life balance.
Perspective and attitude have huge influences on our lives. Great post–Great reminder!
Anne
I hear you, Anne. Animals have a way of centering and calming us. My dog certainly helps do that in our house. And learning to ride horses is a dream I just might be able to achieve now that we’re in KS.
To travel that much would be nice, but… expensive… and with four children currently aged 5 and under?!
I’d rather face the world from home for a while.
That said, we did just go on a small vacation to the Smoky Mountains last week. On the whole, not a bad vacation. Of course, life is always there waiting when you return, so I don’t know how much of a rejuvenation it was.
As for perspective, I only have to look into my children’s eyes and I see everything.
I am constantly reminding myself and others about priorities and perspectives, that God comes first. As I wrote in a recent blog post, you will ALWAYS be second… even if you don’t want to be or think you are.
Good point, WA. I don’t travel as much as I’d like, but I do consider even a break from the normal routine to be a chance to gain perspective. Love your reminder that looking into your children’s eyes does that too.
And yes, compared to God, we will always be second. But, wow, what a wonderful place to be! I’ll take it!
Yes, thank you Aimee! Getting lost in God’s wonder does indeed put things into perspective. I was just saying this to myself yesterday while reading “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young. Anxiety and depression wraps you up in yourself, give it up to Him, put it into perspective. Thank you for this gift today.
Thank you for reading, Joy!
I find this peace and perspective in working with my animals. Whether I am riding or training my horse or working with cattle out at the feed yard. My animals center me and give my life balance.
Perspective and attitude have huge influences on our lives. Great post–Great reminder!
Anne
I hear you, Anne. Animals have a way of centering and calming us. My dog certainly helps do that in our house. And learning to ride horses is a dream I just might be able to achieve now that we’re in KS.