Daily Life Meditation: Traveling

Flávia Ghelardi shares a guided meditation on traveling. What can God teach us about journeying well?

In this practical session on meditation using Father Kentenich’s method, we will reflect on traveling. What do you think God wants to say to you through this reality?

Meditation is a personal encounter with God, to grow in love for Him. Because it is personal, each person will experience this encounter in a different way, in a unique way. Thus, each proposed exercise is intended only to present an example of what this conversation with the Father can be like, so that you can get an overview of the whole process.

Opening Prayer

We are in the place we have chosen to meditate, already prepared with some image that reminds us of the spiritual world, a lit candle, instrumental music, in short, whatever helps us most to concentrate on what we are about to do: have a personal encounter with God.

We close our eyes, take a few deep breaths, and place ourselves in God's presence.

Make the Sign of the Cross.

My holy guardian angel helps me to meditate well so that this moment of prayer may transform my hard, fickle, selfish, and negligent heart into a pure heart, capable of loving and serving God with joy and generosity.

Implore the help of the Holy Spirit:

Holy Spirit, you are the soul of my soul. I humbly adore you. Enlighten me, strengthen me, guide me, comfort me. Reveal your wishes to me as far as this is in accordance with the will of the Eternal Father. Show me what Eternal Love wants of me. Show me what I should do. Show me what I should suffer. Show me what I should humbly and thoughtfully accept, bear and endure. Holy Spirit, show me your will and the will of the Father, for I want my whole life to be nothing else than a continuous, an everlasting yes to the wishes, to the will of God, the Eternal Father. (Father Joseph Kentenich - HW 639)

Meditation Topic: Traveling

What does God want to tell me?

What is the truth that the Father wants to show me through contemplating on traveling?

Traveling means moving from one place to another that is relatively far away. There are many reasons for traveling: tourism, relaxation, visiting friends and relatives, business, shopping, and religious pilgrimages.

Every trip requires preparation: choosing the mode of transportation (car, bus, plane, train), the itinerary to follow, the duration of the trip, the place to stay, who will be traveling with you, and packing your luggage.

The Bible recounts several journeys: Abraham’s journey to the Promised Land, Moses’ journey and that of all the people of Israel through the desert, Tobias’ journey to meet Sarah, the prophet Elijah’s journey, Mary’s journey to visit her cousin Elizabeth, Joseph and Mary’s journey to Bethlehem and later their journey to Egypt, Jesus’ journeys during his three years of preaching, and Saint Paul’s apostolic journeys.

What do I say to myself based on this reality?

I’ve always loved traveling. Discovering new places, meeting new people, visiting friends and relatives. Traveling with the family is wonderful; we spend the entire trip together, something that doesn’t happen in our daily lives, when everyone has their own routine and commitments. I also enjoy going on pilgrimages and visiting sacred sites. The experience of being a pilgrim helps strengthen my faith.

I think the Father wants to remind me that my life is a journey, a pilgrimage toward Heaven. From the moment of my conception until my last breath, I am on the way. On this journey, I have many companions: some will spend many years traveling with me, like my parents, sisters, and later my husband and children; others walked with me for a while, but now they’re following different paths or have already reached their destination.

For this journey of my existence, I need to think about my luggage. Material things must be used along the way, but I won’t be able to carry them all the way to the end. When my time finally comes, the only thing I’ll be able to take with me is love: everything I did or failed to do out of love. Out of love for God and out of love for those whom the Father entrusted to me or who shared their lives with me. That alone will be in my suitcase. Everything else will be left behind.

As I journey along this path, this baggage of love will only grow heavier. I am maturing and coming to understand that the best way to travel is to give of myself, to devote myself, to others. And this effort to love, this path I have chosen, adds to my baggage every day and better prepares me to reach my destination.

How do I answer the Lord?

My holy guardian angel, my traveling companion, the only one who will be with me from the beginning to the end of this journey, help me to travel well, to grow in love as I walk this road toward Heaven. Help me to always discern what is good, what I should take with me, and what is superfluous and I should leave behind. In times of storms and challenges, always stay by my side, protecting and guiding me. Help me to see which path the Father wants me to follow, and if by chance I stray, bring me back to the safe path. I want to be able to say, like Saint Paul: “I have competed well, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

We conclude this moment of prayer by writing down the inspirations we have received in our personal notebooks. We give a brief thanksgiving for having been able to spend a few minutes talking with our Father. We can make a resolution to meditate again the next day and ask our holy guardian angel to remind us throughout the day of these brief moments we have spent together.

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Copyright 2026 Flávia Ghelardi
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