Wandering with a Purpose

"Where are you from?"

I am never quite sure how to answer this question.

I was born in Naples, Italy while my dad was stationed at the U.S. naval base in Gaeta, but I am not Italian. My first memories are from Charleston, South Carolina, where my family spent the next three years, followed by another three-year stint in the small town of Gardnerville, Nevada, but I don’t consider three years enough to truly call a place my “

hometown.” One cross-country road trip later, my family moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, but I don’t have a Southern accent (although my best friend from North Dakota would say otherwise). After high school, I somehow ended up at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, a nine-hour drive from my family, but I always felt weird referring to my college town as my “home”. During my junior year I spent a semester abroad in Florence, Italy, but I was more of a tourist than a resident. Currently, I am living in Little River, South Carolina, but in the fall, I am moving to Salamanca, Spain for three months.

As you can see, I have lived in many places and visited even more. When I think about my future plans, I am not quite sure where I am going to be or what I am going to do. You could call me a wanderer.

Wanderer (n.) A person who travels aimlessly.

When I think of a wanderer I think of a migrant drifting from place to place without a home or a purpose. Yet, all my wandering has pointed me to my one true home and reminded me of my one true purpose, neither of which is of this Earth.

It is said that when St. Therese of Lisieux grew lonely or restless she would remind herself, “The world is thy ship, not thy home”.

We are all wanderers here on Earth, on a journey toward our homeland of Heaven.

Having this eternal perspective in mind keeps everything in its rightful place. That longing for something more, something new, something exciting (longings I have definitely experienced) can only temporarily be satisfied by worldly pursuits.

“Our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” - St. Augustine

For me, exploring new cities, experiencing different cultures, tasting delicious food, meeting unique people, and admiring the wonders of nature will never be fulfilling in and of themselves. However, these things remind me of the God who created all of it out of love. And in Him, I find my direction, purpose, meaning, and home.

Every one of my wanderings in this world has taught me something new about God. His creation has impressed me with His awesome power but also His gentle touch, from scrambling up a strenuous hike to reach a breathtaking view to kayaking through the marsh with moonlight reflecting off the water. Standing next to some of the greatest human artistic and architectural masterpieces from Michelangelo’s massive statue of David to the still unfinished church of La Sagrada Familia has shown me the ways God allows us to participate in His creative work for His glory. These are just a few of the lessons I have learned from my travels; the rest are for later.

A Universal Church

My travels have also brought me closer to Christ’s one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church on Earth. We are not alone in our wandering here. We are surrounded by the body of Christ, which is His Church, all its members traveling toward Heaven together. Catholic means universal.

No matter where I am, I can walk into a church and feel at peace because I know Christ dwells there. I have gone to mass in 11 different countries and 8 different languages. While I was studying abroad in Florence and feeling homesick and lonely, I found consolation in going to mass, knowing that when I received the Eucharist my family, friends, and the whole community of believers also received the body and blood of Christ halfway across the world. I knew that the words I heard were the same as those being said in churches around the globe, albeit in different languages. Is that not crazy?!

Next time you are in a different city, state, country, or continent, I encourage you to visit a church and maybe even go to mass there. It is a beautiful way to experience the culture of a place, surrounded by beautiful architecture, different people, and an unfamiliar language, but engaged in worship of the same God.

My Mission

Jesus wandered too! He traveled over 3000 miles on foot during his ministry. When a man approached Jesus and asked to follow him, he responded, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head” (Matthew 8:20). He sent his disciples out to the ends of the earth, commissioning them to proclaim the good news wherever they went. That is my goal, to wander the world, fall in love with its creator, and bring the Gospel with me.

So, why a travel blog? A piece of advice I once received for becoming a better person was to write something, anything.

Writing down the things I have learned helps me solidify my experiences and creates a record for me to look back and see the ways God has worked in my life. Also, writing allows me to share my journeys, lessons, and tidbits of knowledge with others who could benefit from them. My hope is that writing about the adventure that is my life with Christ will strengthen my faith and the faith of those on this journey with me.

Stay tuned for stories of my adventures, trip itineraries, honest opinions, travel tips, and more.

Come, wander with me!

St. Christopher, patron saint of travelers, pray for us!