Journeys of Faith-Filled Summer
As excerpted from the Orthodox Christian ParentingSummer is a season of movement – road trips, plane rides, beach getaways, visits with grandparents, or even quiet days at home with a bit more freedom in the schedule. Travel is exciting, but it also comes with unknowns: long waits, wrong turns, delays, and detours. We carry our luggage, plan our routes, and hope we’ve packed what we’ll need. But what if we viewed all this movement as more than just “getting somewhere”? What if we saw it as a reflection of our deeper spiritual lives?
As Orthodox Christians, we understand life itself as a pilgrimage, an ongoing movement toward union with God. We are not simply traveling to a destination; we are being transformed along the way. Every twist and turn, every flat tire, missed exit, or change of plans is a chance to be shaped into more patient, more trusting, more Christ-centered people.
Whether your family is heading out on vacation or spending time in your own backyard, consider asking: what does it mean to be on the way with Christ? How do we respond when we face delays or disappointments? What do we carry with us on this journey, not just in our bags, but in our hearts? Who are the companions God has placed in our lives for this journey of faith? And how can we make space to recognize that Christ walks beside us, even when we don’t always see Him?
From the first chapters of Genesis to the last pages of Revelation, the people of God are travelers. Their paths are often long, uncertain, and filled with surprises, but God is with them every step of the way. Abraham was asked by God to leave behind the familiar and step into the unknown. He trusted and obeyed, becoming the father of many nations. His story reminds us that walking in faith often means letting go. The Israelites were led by God out of slavery in Egypt into the wilderness, toward the Promised Land. God didn’t promise ease, but He did promise His presence, guiding them by cloud and fire. His faithfulness gave them direction even when the path was hard. Two disciples, walking away from Jerusalem after the death of Jesus, encountered the risen Christ on the road to Emmaus, though they didn’t recognize Him at first. As He opened the Scriptures to them, their hearts burned within them. This story teaches us to expect Christ’s presence in ordinary moments. And St. Paul, through shipwrecks, trials, and imprisonments, never stopped preaching the Gospel. His perseverance reminds us that even the hardest journeys can bear great fruit when we walk with Christ.
All these journeys were about more than just reaching a place – they were about becoming someone new. Growing in faith, trust, and love for God.
You don’t have to be walking across a desert for forty days to experience a spiritual journey. Here are some meaningful and fun activities your family can do while traveling or even right at home:
Fill a jar with slips of paper, each with a different faith-based question (“How do I know God is guiding me?”, “Who helps me grow in faith?”, “What’s something I’ve learned about God this year?”). Pick one each day or during a road trip to spark discussion.
Have children decorate a small paper “suitcase” and fill it with drawings or words that represent what they want to carry with them on their faith journey – prayer, kindness, courage, etc.
Go on a nature walk or hike and treat it like a mini pilgrimage. Begin with a short prayer, walk in silence for a few minutes, then talk about a saint or a story from Scripture. End with a moment of thanksgiving.
Optional: Choose a destination (like a church, garden, or hilltop) and talk about arriving “somewhere holy.”Create a list of “spiritual” things to look for while traveling. Ideas include: a cross, a church, someone being kind, a rainbow (God’s promise!), something that reminds you of a Bible story. Make it a game: who can spot the most “God sightings”?
Create a timeline or “map” of your spiritual journey so far – milestones like baptism, first confession, meaningful church experiences, or hard times where God felt especially near. Create a simple illustrated map as a family showing: your own spiritual journey (baptism, first time receiving Communion, first time praying together), “stops” on the path where you’ve seen God at work. Decorate it with roads, footprints, or symbols (crosses, churches, hearts, etc.).
Use an unexpected change in plans (traffic jam, delayed flight, etc.) as a chance to pray together or talk about how God might be using the moment for growth.
After your activities (or at the end of a trip), take time to reflect together. What did you learn on the “journey”? Where did you see God at work? In nature, in others, in the quiet? This practice helps children connect the physical act of travel with the spiritual movement of the heart.
As we pack our bags or set out on summer adventures, may we remember that every road we travel is part of the greater journey toward Christ. And like any good trip, it’s not just about the destination – it’s about who we become along the way!
