To be a tourist

Tourists. We hate them and we love them. We scorn them yet we need them. And what of the Christian tourist?

A tourist is a consumer. I like being a consumer. Or at least I can’t help being one – and neither can you. As a tourist, I am primarily a consumer. And…that’s OK!

Isn’t it?

Markets are driven by consumers. Whole economies are based on tourism. And just like ‘global trade lifts millions of people out of poverty’¹, so too can tourism stimulate a healthy wealth spiral.

And sure, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. If the terms ‘responsible tourism’ and ‘ecotourism’, have been coined, then the converse must exist also. Dodgy tour guides, horrible hotels and governments that will misspend money - yes, they’re around. But that shouldn't stop you travelling – just like bad farming should not make you vegetarian. As I tour, and spend, I’d hope that some of my taxi fare and airport taxes would go into feeding some honest, hardworking father and his family (God bless them). And then, not only would I have consumed, but contributed.

Sometimes we are so caught up in being a hero, doing something daring, something great – for the sports team/school/community/God  -  and please, go ahead! we need more who will do so. But then I think there is an equal need for ordinary people – ordinary Christians – to do ordinary things, with the big picture in mind. Aware of how the world – our world – works: what makes it spin (money does make the world go round), and how we contribute – for better or for worse. 

The responsible, eco tourist is in a great position to live this out, and, with God’s grace, this is what I intend to do.

¹Mark Powell, CEO The Warehouse Group  

A divide?

6months in South America. Three months travel, then three months mission work. Though I (nor you) must not be tempted to think that the former is the ‘fun’ part and the latter the ‘helping’ ‘charity’ ‘good work’ part. No more than we should divide our lives into secular and spiritual, time for me and time for God, pocket money vs tithe – you get the idea.

I guess it’s easy to see how volunteer vet work helps people (and animals…). But being a tourist? Well, I spend money. The exchange of money is always welcomed (by the receiver, as least). I also join this group of people (aka needy backpackers) who request services, thus creating a demand for quality services, business opportunities, and inputting into the local – and global – economy.

Cool.

Just think – if nobody – travelled, there’d be no taxi drivers, tour buses, customs officials, travel insurance, suitcase sellers – not that their existence is a reason to travel (any more than the existence of vets is a reason to own a pet¹). But that those of us who can/choose to/delight in travel (aka needy backpackers)– well, good on us, we help the world go round, it needs folk like us too.

¹but if you are petless… and have the means… please do! 

Good posts that get me excited...

http://emilybutterfield.theworldrace.org/?filename=intimacy-is-my-theme-song

http://blogsbychristianwomen.blogspot.co.nz/2013/07/closer-to-god-through-travel.html

One month to go

25/3/14 – journal entry

One month to go. And so many things to be done in it (or… in life in general…if you are a Fan). As I run around (or..sit and journal right now…) organising flights, emailing across the oceans, buying insurance and earplugs, I think, ‘how do I do this in light of who God is? In light of what Christ has done? How do I travel as a Christian? How do I make travel prep as a Christian? (in fact, how should one do anything as a Christian  - work, play, eat, sleep…?)

Do I do it with much prayer? I pray for the mission work – but what about the rest? Do I plan with the disclaimer that in the end the Lord determines my steps? Do I drool over Google maps in awe of the vast Creator? Do I ask for wisdom in making credit card purchases? Do I thank Him every moment for the opportunity, the intellect, the heart to travel? Do I marvel that, through the cross, every corner of life is now brought under his love and lordship?

Yes so much to be done,  but also much to be thought through and thankful for  - let’s not forget this now. 

Travel time

8 May 2014

So, with four years of work under my belt, its time to travel again.

‘how does it feel to be unemployed?’ my sister asked. How crude, I thought. She’s just jealous

Its not that I’m sick of work – on the contrary! But even four years of exhilarating (no kidding – you should try it!) country vetting couldn’t prevent recrudescence of this travel bug.  And with it (I hope!) comes the resurrection of this blog.

Me being me, needs good reasons for doing anything in life –  and ‘just cos’ doesn’t quite make the cut. Four years ago I thought (and blogged) hard as to why I wanted to travel:

If ‘the world is the LORD’s and all who live in it’, can He be learnt of from other people (irrespective of their religion), observing their way of life? Can travel and everything it involves grow me as a disciple? I suspect yes; I go to find out.

Thus I travel to find God ‘over there’, to seek him in contexts I’ve never seen Him in before. I don’t want to be a Christian that forever sees God in only church, ministry, bible studies and Hillsong music.’ 1 

And to these, on a run out to Red Rocks today, I add more thoughts: 

God created to the world – nay, the universe – for us to explore and enjoy. But as to how, He didn’t specify. And so coffee in the city, going bush with beef jerky, scanning 500 cows at 5am, snapping selfies  with the Taj Mahal, or creating glorious diabetes-inducing desserts – can all be done to the praise of God. Each to his own, and all according to his means and genes.

I’m convinced this passion for travel, for cultures, for people, for life – in both its splendour and pain – is given from above. And from the blessings of country vetting (employment is a blessing, people!) I have the means. So I pack my pack and off I go, for the glory of God.

Yes, anything (travel included) that induces you (and even better – others!) to praise the Creator is a worthy endeavour. 

1 Posts Jan 2010