{"id":1751,"date":"2015-08-01T19:06:26","date_gmt":"2015-08-01T19:06:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/?p=1751"},"modified":"2015-07-26T19:17:35","modified_gmt":"2015-07-26T19:17:35","slug":"connecting-with-god-on-vacation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2015\/08\/connecting-with-god-on-vacation.html","title":{"rendered":"Connecting with God on Vacation"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Image<\/a>
Image courtesy of ArvindBalaraman\/FreeDigitalPhotos.net<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We leave behind a lot when we go on vacation! Jobs, daily tasks, household chores. Alas, sometimes, too, we might leave behind an active sense of nurturing our faith, opting to skip church or gloss over our daily prayer routine.<\/p>\n

True, it can be difficult to take our regular faith practices with us on vacation. Often, our schedule is not our own (if we’re on a tour, for example, or if we are dependent on others for transportation and other activities). Our days are not the same, too; if we want to see all the sights, we might have every waking moment taken up with touring – and be too bleary-eyed by the end of the day to think of much else except sleep!<\/p>\n

So, how can we connect with God while we’re on vacation?<\/p>\n

Some simple tips:<\/p>\n

Copy a Bible verse or two, or a favorite prayer, and tuck it into your wallet or purse. Even the knowledge it is there will help you remember the Creator – and give you access to a reading more readily.<\/p>\n

Plot church stops along your itinerary. Perhaps you cannot make it to a full service on Sunday, but even a brief stop by a church, inside or out, can help you refresh your spirit.<\/p>\n

Learn about the faith traditions of the place where you are going. Many historic sites have deep spiritual roots. Learning about these as you take in the other details about who, what, and why will fill-out your understanding of history and feed your faith.<\/p>\n

Be open to God revealing new things to you. All along the way, as we travel, there are many opportunities for God to reveal new insights, wisdom, experiences, and relationships. Keep your heart and eyes and ears open as you journey and don’t hesitate to pursue a road that might lead to spirit-filled delight!<\/p>\n

Spend time in nature. One of the best places to be with the Creator is to spend time in quiet enjoyment of natural surroundings. Even if it is an urban garden, a flower and plant-filled location can be a place of rejuvenation and spiritual refreshment.<\/p>\n

Enjoy your time of rest. Delight in your re-connection with yourself and loved ones. And keep yourself open to God – for He never takes a vacation, but is always present!<\/p>\n

Joy,<\/p>\n

Maureen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We leave behind a lot when we go on vacation! Jobs, daily tasks, household chores. Alas, sometimes, too, we might leave behind an active sense of nurturing our faith, opting to skip church or gloss over our daily prayer routine. True, it can be difficult to take our regular faith practices with us on vacation.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":548,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[43,1242,1047,578,379,1245,1236,83,1421,1246],"tags":[1824,1826,1822,1825,1827,1823],"class_list":["post-1751","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-encouragement-in-life","category-food-for-thought","category-good","category-goodness","category-lupus-2","category-positive","category-prayer-2","category-scripture-and-us","category-take-some-time-to-rest","category-uplifting","tag-faith-and-vacation","tag-finding-god-in-nature","tag-god-on-vacation","tag-gods-revelations","tag-spiritual-vacation","tag-vacations-and-faith"],"yoast_head":"\nConnecting with God on Vacation - Good Days...Bad Days With Maureen Pratt<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2015\/08\/connecting-with-god-on-vacation.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Connecting with God on Vacation - Good Days...Bad Days With Maureen Pratt\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"We leave behind a lot when we go on vacation! 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She expected to be writing scripts. God had other plans. A few years after her graduation, Maureen was diagnosed with a life-threatening case of organ-involved lupus. Her life turned upside down as she grappled with the effects of the illness and other health conditions that ensued. She was no stranger to serious health challenges; even as a child, Maureen had survived numerous bouts of pneumonia, flu, and other infections. But lupus made her take a fresh look at her life goals - and took herlifelong, strong Catholic Christian faith and writing in a direction she'd never imagined. Today, Maureen writes and speaks about walking with the Lord while living with chronic pain and illness. Her most recent book is \"Don't Panic!: How to Keep Going When the Going Gets Tough (Franciscan Media). She is also the author of, \"Peace in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain & Illness\" (Image Books\/Randomhouse), \"Beyond Pain: Job, Jesus, and Joy\" (Twenty-Third Publications), \"The First Year: Hypothyroidism, Second Edition\" (Perseus) and \"Taking Charge of Lupus: How to Manage the Disease and Make the Most of Your LIfe.\" She writes the syndicated column, \"Living Well,\" for Catholic News Service, and has also written for Saint Anthony Messenger Magazine, Journey for Women Magazine, The Upper Room Magazine, LupusNow, and Arthritis Today. Maureen's health continues to be a challenge, however she feels honored to be able to bring her perspective, from experience and knowledge, to others. \"Good Days...Bad Days with Maureen Pratt\" is a new way for Maureen to reach people who carry the burden of illness and pain in their lives, or who care for someone who does. 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