Jeff and I travel a lot, but we don’t usually travel for the sake of travel. It’s usually for his work. And mostly to the same places. And I’ve been okay with that. But recently I’ve found myself restless, ready to go somewhere, even though the “going” part isn’t my favorite. The “being there” is what I enjoy.
Why the travel bug all of a sudden? As I’ve thought about it, it doesn’t come down to wanting to see the world—although I do. Or wanting to be away from home—which I don’t. Or even wanting to indulge my own desires—which is always a pull. Instead, I find myself wanting to travel these days for the sake of relationships.
Here are some examples:
I want to go to Budapest—because my sister and brother-in-law now live there. I want to visit them, see their life, experience the city through their eyes.
I want to go to Oxford—because a man very dear to us has an advanced stage of cancer. I want to see him one more time this side of heaven, but I also want to see his wife. To hug her and pray with her and tell her how much she means to me.
I want to go to Glasgow—because a darling girl from our church is there studying at the University of Glasgow, getting her master’s degree in philosophy. I want to visit the church she’s found there, see how she is doing for myself, and, again, see the city through her eyes.
I want to go to Grasse, in southern France—because a ministry we love and support is there. I want to see Vincent and Nicole and the place where they pour into the lives of children in the name of Jesus. I want to be able to visualize it all when I pray for them.
I want to go to Vienna—because my daughter will be there for a conference next fall, and it would be fun to let her show us around some of the places she’s visited and loves while she is there, too.
And that’s just for 2026!
I very seriously doubt it will all happen, but these are my dreams, ones I’m holding out to the Lord, asking if He can make at least a few of them happen. And yet I know that saying yes to any of these will mean saying no to something else, and probably a “good” something else. Still, I long to cross the ocean to spend time with some of the people I love.
Are there places you long to travel to because there are people there whom you love? Tell us!
Please take lots of pictures to share with us. Especially Glasgow. Praying for your safety.
Definitely! We’ll see which (if any!) of these trips the Lord makes room for us to do!
Oh, how I’ve wished to travel to distant lands and see things I’ve only read about or seen in photos! I do a lot of vicarious travelling, though and I love looking at others’ adventures. I do hope you’ll share lots of yours!
I will! Praying I get to do at least one of these trips in 2026!
We hope to travel to Switzerland in 2026 to visit our daughter and son-in-law, who is working toward his PhD at the university in Bern. Staying with them means we get both a tourist and a local experience, which you seem to understand is the way to go! A side trip to Normandy is a must, given we missed out on that experience in 2020. If you get to any of your dream sites, be sure to share.
That would be so fun, Janice! I hope you get to go!
Oh, Switzerland is a wonderful place to experience! I may go see a cousin who lives in Panama with her family. She is a teacher.
Visiting Budapest and Prague are on my list. Oxford and Glasgow have so much history. I like the Lewis and Endeavor series filmed at Oxford (sequels to Inspector Morse).
Salzburg, Austria is a wonderful place – have not yet made it to Vienna. But I enjoy the New Year’s Day concert on PBS.
Panama would be so interesting, too! We love the Inspector Lewis/Morse/Endeavor shows, so yes, Oxford would be lovely. We’ll see what the Lord has for us next year!
I would love to return to my mother’s home place outside of Belfast on Loch Neigh. I’ve been several times while my mom was alive. She’s been gone many years. However, I’d like to go back once more & see the house & grounds where my cousin’s daughter & her husband now reside. Also, visit our family in England, Wales & Denmark. But, who knows! I’ll ask of the Lord & look for an opportunity.
Ireland is on our “someday” list. I imagine that would be a special trip with all your family history there.