What is Holy?

Connecting spirit and travel

As I pondered this month’s writing challenge, I decided to write about discovering the holy or spiritual in my travels. I have visited many countries and places of worship of different faith traditions, both as a worshipper in my tradition and as a respectful visitor in others. I am however unable to identify or point to any one moment of deep spiritual experience. Yes, there certainly were moments of awe and wonder at architecture, tradition or history, but no deeply felt experience.

I am not saying I have not experienced deep spirituality. I certainly have in my prayer life and in quiet reflective times but not in any single or particular geographical place during my travels.

What I began to find holy and profound when visiting religious sites is the fact that people have gathered together in these different places for countless years, united in their search for meaning, truth or transcendence. It is this timeless inner searching and need across geographical and cultural boundaries that is profoundly holy and mystical. It is a clear pointer to a search for a larger reality that keeps me grounded in my own belief in God.

In the course of my travels, I developed a kindred connection with all searchers and worshippers whenever I visited a religious site — a sense of oneness with that universal principle motivating and drawing us towards something larger than ourselves. So much so that I can no longer indulge or feel any sense of superiority, separateness, or competition.

So what has travel got to do with this?

Travel has, over the years, helped open my eyes and heart to different faith traditions and cultures. In so doing, I now believe we are truly one in the eyes of our creator — a creator who continuously wills and draws us wholly together in Love.

I can only respond to this insight by beginning to cooperate with Love … day by day … year by year.

Blessings for a New Year that’s full of Love.

For more writings on spirituality and travel from other viewpoints I invite you to read and enjoy the following Monthly Challenge stories from fellow Globetrotters.

Spiritual Traditions in Old Jerusalem by Rhonda Carrier Listening To Mother Nature Through the Trees of Life by Jillian Amatt - Artistic Voyages The Golden Temple in Amritsar, India: A Profoundly Spiritual Experience by Brina Patel The Journey Within: Navigating the Intersection of Travel and Spirituality by Adrienne Beaumont