Traveling Together

This past week 32 of us had the privilege to travel together to Quebec City for a few days.  Most of us had traveled together the year prior in Europe. The bond of love and care for one another that was created on our 1st trip made our hearts yearn for a reunion, to travel together once again, and be reunited. On both trips, together we created memories. We shared experiences - some which made us laugh, and others which made us shed a tear, we became vulnerable to one another, we listened, we cared, we loved. When we each returned home we were all filled with the blessings of Christian friendships, unity of the Spirit, and the joys of traveling this road of life together.

One of the greatest gifts we gave to one another as we traveled was the sharing of our hearts and the experiences God had allowed in our lives.  This past week our theme for the week was “Traveling Together”. We used the Bible as our road map, and chose 4 well known persons Jacob, Rebekah, Mary (the mother of Jesus) and Jesus to focus our theme.

As I pondered within my own heart and mind of the many places, people and circumstances that we all accumulate as we travel along our own life’s pathway, my mind kept returning to the information that I had been researching as I prepared for a cooking class a few weeks ago.

Our bodies have two main categories to break down the nutrients which we consume, macronutrients and micronutrients.  

Macronutrients, are large, they are found in proteins, fats and carbs.  These macros are the building blocks of energy for our bodies tissues and organs.  Macronutrients are found in ALL food, processed, animal product and plants alike. So, they are in both healthy and unhealthy choices, no matter what we eat, we are consuming macros.  

Micronutrients on the other hand, are very small and are primarily found in plants.  Micros consist of vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, certain acids and 10,000+ trace minerals.  The micros are the toolkit that sustains, repairs, builds up, and supports the macros so our bodies can perform at its optimal performance. The micros won’t give our bodies the energy we need to run a marathon, but these gems give us the saws, hammers, and nails that our cells need to transform the macronutrients into the energy to power our marathon run.  They give us the energy to keep traveling on, they give us health, they put the bounce into our step, and they make the load easier to carry.

When our bodies become devoid of or only consume minimal  micronutrients, we become more susceptible to disease of all kinds, obesity, diabetes, cancer, anxiety, depression.  When the micros are not there to help the macros, we become weak, we lose our shine, and our energy is easily depleted.

So you are probably asking,  what does this have to do with traveling together? I kept trying to formulate in my mind how to articulate this comparison each time we were given the opportunity to share as a group while we traveled together in Quebec City.

In my life the macronutrients of my spiritual well being, are reading the Bible, praying to God, and attending church.  These 3 elements are large, they are needful, and they are the building blocks of the overall health of my spiritual well being.  But if I only consumed, took part in these 3 actions in my life, the road traveled would be lonely and difficult. To receive the fullness of these macronutrients, many other small, sometimes seemingly insignificant acts are done to support me on my journey.

The micronutrients that come along side of me to help support the macronutrients of my spiritual journey of life are almost innumerable.  A prayer prayed on behalf of myself or my family. Reading the Bible together. Provoking each other to good works. Being accountable to a church family. A meal made in time of distress or trial. A hand written note of thanks and appreciation. A sermon preached. A text sent with words of kindness. A hug. A smile. A gentle hand on the shoulder. A poem or inspirational quote/scripture shared.  A listening ear. A lunch date. Conversations of sharing, both the struggles and joys of life. Correction given in love. Trials and controversy shared. Laughing together. Weeping together. A smiley face emoji. Togetherness in silence, when the presence of being together are the only words needed. Praising God together. Singing with many or few. Praying with a friend, spouse, neighbor, or stranger. Esteeming others higher than ourselves. Carrying one another’s burdens. Being vulnerable, truthful, and open. I could go on and on.  

The point is, without the micronutrients in my life, I would shrivel up, wither, and find it exceptionally difficult to find the energy and strength needed to travel this journey on my own.  Would it be possible? Could I do it? Yes, by the grace of God, it would be possible. But, we don’t have to. God wants us to come alongside one another. He wants us to journey together. He wants us to allow Him to be the leader, and to walk beside other fellow travelers on our journey.  Sometimes these persons will travel with us for only a moment or two, sometimes for a few weeks or months, sometimes (as with a spouse) until death we part, but each play a role in sharing our journey of traveling together. The micros in my life give me my shine, my energy, my joy. They are my blessings and gifts I receive every day, and I thank God for each of them.

So, after reading this...I encourage you go forward, go onward, and be purposeful in being a micronutrient in somebody’s life today.  You may not think you are necessary, or that it really matters whether you do it or not. Don’t be afraid to share, to reach out, to use those talents that God has given you it could be the one nutrient that your recipient is lacking. You do matter, and your actions and deeds (whatever that may be in your life or mine) is of significance. Our “health” and and their optimal wellness is dependent upon it.  Each of us need one another to “feed us” along the way. Your “micro” deed bestowed on someone else could make a “macro” difference in your life and theirs.

Travel on...Wishing you healthful blessings today!

Kim