“Then they said to him, ‘Please inquire of God to learn whether our journey will be successful.’  The priest answered them, ‘Go in peace. Your journey has the LORD’s approval.’” (Judges 18:5–6)

Some of my best childhood memories were made on the summer road trips my family took to Nevada to visit my dad’s family. My parents went out of their way to take us to see the wonders of the West: the Grand Canyon, the Hoover Dam, Yellowstone National Park, the Redwood Forest, and many others. Of course, a trip through California wouldn’t be complete without a stop at Disneyland, Universal Studios, and Knott’s Berry Farm. One particular memory of a Cabbage Patch Kids store in Los Angeles still stands out.

As an adult, I’ve not traveled much. Traveling exhausts me, and as someone who suffered from chronic migraines for almost two decades and who relies on routine to keep them under control, upending my schedule through travel just isn’t that appealing.

But as summer comes to a close, I’m reminded that some of my best childhood memories were made on those family vacations. And how that even as an adult, the road trips I’ve taken—though few and far between—have all left a lasting impression.

The destinations were amazing—the history of San Antonio, the culture of Santa Fe, the peace of Amelia Island, the beauty of Savannah, the lakes of Minneapolis/St. Paul—but what I remember most are the people I shared those trips with and the hours spent laughing and joking and oohing and aahing over all the things to see and all the new places to eat. No vacation is complete without trying the local cuisine, right?

I believe this is why most people like to travel so much—it’s not so much the destination but the memories we make on the journey.

And isn’t that like life? The lessons we learn and the memories we make don’t necessarily come from reaching our goals. Instead, they’re made along the way—through the choices we make, the people we meet, the mistakes we make. And with Jesus’s help, we’ll keep learning and growing and becoming more like him with each step we take.

Dear Jesus, thank you for the opportunities to learn and grow and become more like you on this journey we call life. Amen.