A Liturgy for a Family Road Trip

Lord of every language and landscape,

Pilot of this vast and wonderful planet,

be our provision today as we set off on an adventure.

Leaving home for any length of time is an opportunity

to shake up our routines and release the excess worries that stick to us like webs,

so that in our letting go,

we might become more free.

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May we begin this day with open hands,

holding our plans loosely,

since we know that some of life’s best adventures unfold unexpectedly,

with memorable moments appearing all along the way to and from our destinations.

May we be quick to apologize and quick to forgive,

so that any rift or tension we encounter may be a shortcut to humility, curiosity, and growth.

Remind us with fresh eyes,

Lord: You are God of the rivers our roads swerve next to, God of the stars sparkling between city lights,

You are seen in every stranger’s face, heard in our laughter, our stories, our songs.

From dewy morning fog to dark shivering night, busy urban streets to dusty country roads,

You are with us and surround us wherever we go.

May we sense Your presence as we adventure,

and return from our travels softer and stronger,

with hearts full of gratitude for the journey and the people we journeyed with,

for the opportunity to experience new things, and for the great gift of returning home.

Amen

Alli Rogers Dahlgren is a singer-songwriter who leads writing workshops through her website shelterwriters.com.

Photo credit: Taylor Gonzalez