Travel and Missions

Travel and Missions

A few months back, when I was getting ready to catch the train for yet another trip, my eight year old son Jason was sad that I was going once again. I tried to explain to him my role as a missionary and that through my travels, I was trying to help spread the Good news of Jesus Christ. He replied that he understood all this but his only request was that I will quickly complete my travel around the world and finish my job and start being at home with him. I really wish I could do that. As I reflected on my son's response, I began to realize that even if I travel endlessly all over the world, I may never be able to fulfill the Great Commission. It does not matter how many kilometers, I clock on the road and rail or even the number of flying hours. I have heard some boast on the amount of travel they did consequently spending a large part of their life on the train berths. Many boast of the great international and national conferences, consultations and meetings they have graced. I wonder what happened to their families ? What is the point in having traveled all my life, visited every place and attended all the meetings on earth and gaining them but losing one's own soul (the family)? What purpose does it serve, when my children begin to call me "A Visiting Dad" or my wife is forced to call me as a "A Visiting Husband" ?

Official traveling is not limited to the Missionary world alone. Ask any salesman, business man, trader, politician, executive, director - all of them need to take the road. Globalisation of business, politics, sports, missions etc., means traveling is a must. Rest, leisure, holidaying and relaxation also requires traveling. Internet, satellite transmission, video conferencing etc., may reduce some travel but it can never replace the personal touch to relationships which actually enhances our work. As we grow in our role and responsibility, we need to travel and extend our influence and contribution in many places of our nation and beyond. This needs to be done in tune with the purpose and calling of God. It is difficult to find a non-traveling job these days, even lecturers in Bible colleges are forced to travel to participate in seminars. We cannot even choose, where we want to live. The place of our living is chosen according to our role and responsibility in the vocation God wants us to be in and the place keeps changing periodically. Most often we are called to go out of our comfort zones, where we face new challenges and our faith is built up.

I believe, we need to learn how to travel wisely and make the best use of our time and money. We should overcome the false guilt of traveling by a faster or a comfortable mode of transport if and when funds are available for the purpose. We should never sacrifice our family time to be spectators of events or even to 'grace an occasion' a temptation as we grow in popularity. We should travel only to learn, lead, influence, encourage or make a contribution. We should learn the art of delegation realizing that we are not indispensable. God can use others as well as He uses me. The triune God loves to work in teams. Finally, we should learn to say "No" - the most difficult art of communication in life.

My eight year old son is eager to spend more time with me now and is willing to wait for me to finish my work. In another ten years he will fly out of the nest and will not wait for me. Do you know what my son wants to do when he grows up ? He wants to be a missionary too. I asked him the reason. He replied ' its simple, I can also get to travel all over the world, like my beloved daddy' ! Let me stop now. I am grateful to God for giving me an understanding family. I pray that God will give me wisdom to make the right choices in my traveling role and responsibly fulfill the calling of God in my life.  Seeking opportunities to serve my family, John Amalraj

Published in Indian Missions, Quarterly of India Missions Association, Hyderabad, April 2010