It is a family custom at my home to begin every vacation together with a prayer for safety and health. It usually happens when we get in the car and head down the driveway to the airport or to some far off destination on the road.
Recently, one of our children made a last minute decision to hop in an older car we were getting ready to sell, and drive across the state to pick up a friend and bring him back home. His car broke down in a remote location and left him stranded while waiting several hours for AAA to show up. He had to spend a night and a day waiting for a repair, and then home he came. He and his friend returned safely and all was well, but it sure seemed like the trip could have gone smoother. Looking back, there had been no “trip prayer.”
So, I’m a believer in “trip prayers!”
In my prayers when travelling, I like to know that God has already planned the whole trip out. Every detail is already figured out in the Mind of God to be smooth, orderly, timely, and appropriate for the moment I’m in.
If driving a car, I know that the one Mind is driving our car and every car on the road. The one Mind follows behind, goes before and is at my side. Every person driving a car reflects the intelligence and wisdom of the one Mind to be driving in harmony with our car, and likewise, we reflect the wisdom and intelligence of the one Mind to drive in harmony with their car. There is no conflict, no breakdowns, no mistakes, and no accidents on the highway of divine Mind. Mind’s hands are on the steering wheel of every vehicle, its dominion is on the brake and its attention is on the gas pedal.
If flying by plane, I know that God is the pilot of our plane, that Mind is the body of the plane we ride in and that Love is the sky we fly in. And every passenger in that plane is a loved and loving child of God that enjoys the ride, thinks only goodwill toward his fellow passenger and has only loving intent toward others. God stands porter at the door of the plane and allows only loving intent to enter its passageway. There is no room, space or place for anything less than Love’s presence.
I pray to know that health is a permanent part of who we are and is not vulnerable or susceptible to loss depending upon where we travel. Health is a not a variable. It’s a fixed, certain and predictable part of our being that does not fluctuate. “Nothing changes here,” with God. We’re always in the same place, the place of divine Love, where Mind is in control of every factor that affects our wellness. Health is a constant we can count on.
I pray that we are flexible and adaptable. That if plans don’t unfold the way we thought, then God has a better plan. We are open to that plan and ready to go where the voice of wisdom leads. There is always a spiritual lesson being learned that makes us better people.
I pray the words of Paul, “For in him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28, KJV). True travelling happens in Spirit. Progressive travel is thought moving from one inspired idea to another inspired idea. This is a fun activity to engage! It’s never dreary or onerous to be inspired. It’s joyful, delightful, buoyant, and health producing.
So, when embarking on your next trip, don’t forget the most important part of your itinerary! Start with a healthy, robust “trip prayer,” that keeps your thought in a high place and enables you to enjoy all of God’s blessings along the way.
Happy travels.
i like this a lot. Also seems to include prayer first before doing something,….. rather than prayer after we seem to have a problem which is unusual in reading about CS
These truths are so similar to the ones I use before trips, and are so accurately, beautifully expressed that I must print them out. Thanks for your gift of these Spirit View columns.
I always pray with this before leaving the house, even if only for a short 2 mile drive to the store: “The Lord shall preserve they going out and thy coming in from this time forth and even forever more.” I also pray to know that God is always protecting my home. Leaving ALL under the control and government of God gives me peace of mind.
Correction: not they but thy going out – sorry!
Thank you Evan. Perfect timing for us as we Just started a road trip!!
I worked for a major international airline for nearly 40 years. I have been around the world several times and have seen multiple instances of the goodness of God.
Prayer for our passengers, crew and aircraft was a daily duty/privilege for me. There are many prayers that fit. For instance when I am on a night flight and looking out the window at the powerful engines I pray “peace and joy and power. Love owns each waiting hour until I arrive at my destination. Keep me on upward wing tonight”. (Paraphrase of Hymn 208)
One prayer I used often is on p.340 of Science & Health: “One infinite God, good, unifies men and nations…” To me the prayer for any trip in in the first four words.
Our aircraft were high jacked twice but there was no loss of passengers or crew. On another occasion, all four engines stopped while the jet was in midair, but it landed safely.
(See book on Amazon.com All Four Engines Have Failed, by Betty Tootel, a passenger on that flight).
A good prayer for car travel is “In Thee O God do I put my trust. Let me never be put to confusion.” Since accidents are usually a result of confusion this prayer negates that.
Inspiring ideas! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for this timely Spiritview!! I just booked a flight which didn’t look like it would work, but I knew if it was right, God would figure out the details that I couldn’t. It all fell together beautifully! I’m so grateful for this opportunity to visit a dear friend I haven’t seen in a long time!! And, Evan, the driving thoughts are so wonderful because I’m just teaching my grandson to drive and I will share those prayerful thoughts with him! I really rejoiced with you, Patricia, for the proofs and protections you shared with us as well – and the other sharing comments, too!!
Thank you, Evan, and all others who have expressed splendid ways to pray before and during our travels.
Study and practice of Christian Science has helped me to gain an improved sense of security , a certainty that God is always present to keep us safe, embraced in His love.
Thank you Evan. . . a vital part in travel preparation. So grateful in you expression of Love divine!
Another Patty here…appreciating your reminder that as metaphysicians we spiritualize the physical sense of “travel” or movement, in truth, to be the progression of ideas, Mind, Spirit. The first teacher of Christ-ian science, Jesus, explained “travel” as the movement of consciousness or thought when instantly crossing the sea (John:6). Today we are witnessing a massive movement in consciousness of “Syrians” and thanks to you Evan and all, we have a perfect prayer for their “safe travels”.
This description of prayer, and the responses, are so helpful! I immediately have passed this onto a number of family members, –to spread its practical application to those we love when they are traveling!!.
Thank you Evan, and all, for sharing!!
How wonderful this is. Thank you. I always travel by ARK, as in the Glossary of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. It was so helpful for a very young Sunday School Student flying to FL alone to visit grandparents. I love your expansive prayers.
All this is so very helpful. Thanks, Evan, for your wonderful thoughts and for getting the ball rolling. I have been better in recent years about praying regarding travel, though that was definitely a part of my class instruction.
Last year I was on a bus trip to Scotland and prayed a lot before it. The most interesting thing to me was that it came to me to pray a lot about accidents, which I did. What happened was there were three accidents, all involving health problems, and I was right there to pray for the people involved and sometimes to give practical help.