Passport To Purpose

Vacation, Travel, or Journey. …. Pleasure, Adventure or Soul Searching. They all may be important to you throughout your life, but there are differences between them. “Vacations” can be a time of bonding with our spouses and/or family, relaxing and fun… and that is wonderful. “Traveling” can give us experiences that we may not receive on a vacation; it expands our knowledge of the world. We learn history, are exposed to different cultures, participate in memorable activities, meet interesting people and taste unique foods. Through travel, we use our senses and open up our minds… but the question arises….what about our hearts? A“Journey” has a deeper purpose. A journey is about EXPLORATION and about change within us. If we make a decision to go on a journey somewhere throughout the world, we can see that it can change us in ways that we cannot even imagine.

A few weeks ago, I returned from a trip to Peru. I traveled for a week with an organization called AJWS (American Jewish World Service). This experience was not about imparting any religious beliefs or about transmitting our American values onto other people. This experience was about recognizing how people help each other in various ways within their own environments and how we can support their personal and social change, which, in turn, creates a better world for all of us.

I was blessed to have been able to witness what AJWS does in the Latin American region. Peru is a developing country with many economic and social challenges. Our main purpose was to visit grass-roots organizations ( NGO’s or non- governmental organizations) that have created successful ways to help one another with limited resources. I was enthralled as I listened to stories from women with HIV who are becoming empowered through their support groups and are advocating for themselves to receive the care they deserve, indigenous people along the Amazon River who are rising from the violence in their homes and becoming educated on their sexual and reproductive rights, African-Peruvians who are discriminated against because of the color of their skin who are teaching their children to accept and celebrate their identity, young children in an impoverished community day care center who are learning team building and leadership skills through sports, and disabled women who have created a craft business that helps them to become more economically self-sustaining, and, through the support of each other, feel more beautiful in their own bodies.

Yes, meeting and talking with these amazing people altered and awakened my soul and, along with the final days of my travels, brought me to a new understanding of myself. After traveling with the AJWS group of supporters and professionals, my path led me to the Andes Mountains, where I toured and learned of the ancient Inca people’s extraordinary systems of learning, beliefs and community in a beautiful city called Cuzco (meaning “the center of the world”). I traveled by train through the Sacred Valley and was able to wander, explore then sit quietly to pause and meditate above the ruins of Machu Pichu. I made some personal discoveries as I sat still in this amazing ancient sanctuary and my inner world shifted as I experienced those moments in time. I knew I was supposed to be right where I was. Peru had been calling me and I jumped aboard. I went alone, not knowing anyone on the trip (but loving everyone I met), and not knowing how my kids and my husband would survive without me (they did just fine… even with injuries and flu!) and I came back with a heart that was more open to the world.

All I can say is this: Go where you are must go. Experience what you are must experience. Risk what you must risk. Journey where you must journey… and quite possibly, your soul will shift and your heart will open up more to the world. You will get a stamp in your passport; not only from the particular country that you visited, but a stamp of purpose on your soul as well.

Ask yourself if it is possible to go to a place that you have wanted to visit next year in 2010. If you can make it happen….take the journey!