Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

One problem with travel is the impossibility of maintaining routine. Work, exercise, diet, prayer-&-meditation, Skype with the grandson, daily blog postings… on the road everything is haphazard at best.

The flip-side is the out-of-the-ordinary experiences, the things I see, the amazing food, the view from up in the clouds, and most especially the people I meet.

On balance I’d say that a little travel is welcome, but if I want to get anything done I need to cultivate some routine. The past three weekends were rich and productive; now it’s time to settle in to some time here at home.

SPIRITUAL PARALLEL: My spiritual life, it turns out, is an exact mirror of my month on the road. That’s because there is no separation between “my life” and “my spiritual life.” My life is my spiritual life, and it’s as connected to God as I’m willing to allow or acknowledge.

Yesterday afternoon, walking through the stunning architecture of another international airport, it was easy to lose touch with the day-to-day world of three-mile commutes and stopping for milk on the way home.

Then, sitting in the plane (recent flights have been Jet Blue, U.S. Air, Southwest, and then Air Tran), I thought about the “30,000 feet” spiritual experiences I’ve enjoyed, the “mountain-retreat” highs, the “sharing our stories” connections I’ve made, the “transformational worship” moments of communion, the sense of unfiltered interface with God.

Now, at my desk this morning, I’m thinking about the routine devotional discipline of daily scripture reading and constant prayer, about the routine appointments and meetings I’m scheduled to attend, about the ongoing relationships cultivated over time, and about the quiet but profound connection I feel to God in the details of washing dishes, preparing food, watering plants, vacuuming the floor, walking the dog….

And I am grateful that the reality of faith is sometimes more clear and more compelling in the day-to-day of walking with Jesus than it is in the spiritual highs of travel and retreat.

Because it is for this day, for this moment, and for all the myriad routine details of simply “doing” our real lives that Jesus offers this life-charged life, the promise and the fruition of God’s amazing love for each and every one of us.

In love, and because of love – DEREK