‘As apostles of Christ we certainly had a right to make some demands of you, but instead we were like children among you. Or we were like a mother feeding and caring for her own children. We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too. Don’t you remember, dear brothers and sisters, how hard we worked among you? Night and day we toiled to earn a living so that we would not be a burden to any of you as we preached God’s Good News to you. You yourselves are our witnesses—and so is God—that we were devout and honest and faultless toward all of you believers. And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children. We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.’ 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12(NLT)
‘So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.’ 1 Thessalonians 5:11(NLT)
A good friend visited one summer and shared details of what had become a failed marriage. Her husband frequented Asia for work and had become deeply entrenched in a pattern of infidelity. Now she and her children faced life without a husband and father.
It’s dangerously easy for Road Warriors to grow comfortable with distance from their family and community by falling into the habit of only loosely communicating while away. The unfortunate result can be emotional distance and separate lives where each simply does their own thing.
God gifted us with family and community and established unique roles for us in each other’s lives. He does not want us to become disconnected. When the apostles traveled, they constantly tied in to community or family. It was nearly impossible to live a separate life. A common denominator among travelers who have experienced relational adversity is that one or both parties slid into a separate life. In doing so, they not only became distant from each other, but also from God’s plan for their lives.
As with devotion and prayer, communication and connection with home are critical. Contact needs to be much more than simply checking a box during a hectic week. Married Road Warriors, especially, who travel solo need a purposeful communication plan that establishes presence at home even while away. Good, healthy community on the road can also help fill the void, especially for the single traveler. We’ll deep dive that subject in a separate Bible Plan.
For married travelers, we recommend setting aside regular dates and times to connect with home in advance, intentionally slowing down before connecting and using live communication apps like FaceTime or Skype. Set aside a few minutes to connect with God before you connect with your family. Pray and get in the right state of mind and heart. Get out of the work mode to foster a true connection.
Connect, listen deeply, share your day and your thoughts, and seek to understand what is happening in each other’s lives. Persist! You’ll find yourself better tuned in, more connected, and more closely aligned with God’s plan for your relationship with your family and loved ones.
from A Road Warrior’s Guide To Spiritual Discipline