Embarking on a Spiritual Road Trip: Unpacking My Suitcase of Faith in Modern America

Picture this: you’re setting out on a road trip across the vast, diverse landscapes of American Christianity. It’s not your average journey. There are detours aplenty, checkpoints named “Politics” and “Culture Wars”, and the occasional scenic overlook where you get a glimpse of what true love and freedom really looks like. Growing up in West Texas, my spiritual GPS was set to a very specific destination. But as I’ve journeyed into adulthood, I’ve been recalibrating that route, seeking paths that embrace expression, life, and the ultimate freedom that comes with both.

Imagine cruising through a town where every billboard advertises the same brand of Christianity. That was my starting point. Here, faith often feels like it comes in a one-size-fits-all package. But as anyone who’s tried on a one-size-fits-all anything knows, they seldom fit just right. This realization sparked my quest for a spiritual wardrobe that wasn’t just more colorful, but also a better fit for the complexities of my identity and the modern world.

Venturing further, I hit the bustling intersection where faith meets politics. It’s like arriving at a four-way stop where everyone thinks they have the right of way. From the backseat, politics often chimes in, turning peaceful drives into debates that can steer the conversation—and congregation—into divisive territories. Finding a path through this terrain means learning to tune into the channels that amplify love, inclusivity, and understanding.

Taking the scenic route has introduced me to the vibrant landscapes of identity and inclusivity. It’s here I learned that faith communities can and should be as diverse as the world around us. This part of the journey has been about rolling down the windows, turning up the music, and celebrating every individual’s unique journey. It’s been about understanding that differences don’t just coexist within faith; they enrich and define it.

The highlight of this road trip? Discovering the highway of freedom — not the kind marked on any map, but the freedom found in expressing and living one’s true self. This highway is lined with billboards that encourage questioning, seeking, and loving in all forms. It’s where I learned that spirituality isn’t a solo ride; it’s a caravan, enriched by every soul we encounter along the way.

For those of us navigating our faith amidst the myriad expressions of Christianity in America, the road trip analogy feels apt. It’s an adventure defined more by the journey than the destination, filled with conversations rather than declarations, and guided by a quest for a faith that reflects our true selves.

So here’s to spiritual road trips: may they be long, winding, and wonderfully scenic. And as we each chart our unique routes, let’s remember that the diversity of our journeys is what makes the landscape of faith so breathtakingly beautiful. After all, the best trips are those where we discover not just new views but new parts of ourselves.