Snowmobiling in Churchill, Canada
My brother-in-law, Lee and I out for a stroll
Home, sweet, home in the Ahwatukee Foothills of Arizona
Behind the Pages
Writing Wonderlust
A Spiritual Travelogue for the Adventurous Soul
God has always seemed to write my life in parables. Even as a kid, long before I knew the Author of all my journeys in the way I do today, I was aware there was a larger story behind my everyday adventures, a lesson that could be learned — and taught — a hint of wonder hiding just beneath the surface of the seemingly ordinary.
As I grew older, and had the opportunity to travel to places like Morocco, Egypt, Italy, Cambodia, and the jungles of the Amazon, I noticed that these parables became more profound and personal whenever I was on the road. Since travel, particularly international travel, pulls me out of my comfort zone and my usual routine, I realized it was a time when I was uniquely alert and aware, dependent on God and ready to learn.
The more I traveled, the more life parables I collected. Although I recorded bits and pieces of my adventures in personal journals, I wanted to get all of my journeys, and their corresponding life lessons, down on paper. I wasn’t certain if this collection would ever be seen by anyone other than myself. I only knew I had to get started.
Then, an unexpected death rocked the foundation of my world—and my faith. Although Brent Curtis was more of an acquaintance than a close friend, he was someone whom I prayed for regularly. He was the counselor of a close friend and co-author of The Sacred Romance with John Eldredge. I had listened to both Brent and John share aloud the chapters of their as yet unpublished book over the course of twelve weeks. What I heard from them, and later read in their book, helped move me toward addressing deep wounds and fears I had struggled with most of my life. When Brent died in a rock climbing accident, it felt as though those wounds were being reopened, just as they were beginning to heal.
You can read the rest of this story in “Journey Toward Healing,” Chapter Four in Wonderlust. But suffice it to say, God revealed Himself to me in a wonderful way, as an Artist whose gallery was the world around me. That day, God opened my eyes to the masterpieces of His creation as if for the very first time. From that day on, travel (and even the ordinary journey of day-to-day life) seemed even richer, more amazing, and more sacred than it had in the past. This way of seeing the world, of being awestruck by its wonders, was something I couldn’t keep to myself. I decided I had to share it the best way I knew how—through my writing.
My “Journey Toward Worship” at the Grand Canyon, (Chapter Two of Wonderlust) was the first parable I completed. After I shared what I’d written with a writer’s group, the concept for writing a “spiritual travelogue” began to take shape. However, I had children to get through high school, a drama team to lead at my church, and a mountain of freelance projects demanding my attention in my in-box. Two years later, my youngest child, Katrina, graduated from high school, and my husband was offered a job in Phoenix, Arizona. After struggling with not only facing the empty nest, but moving the nest out of state so shortly after Ryan and Katrina took their first steps out on their own, Mark and I made the move. Then, I began to write.
The result is Wonderlust. Reliving thirty of my most life-changing journeys through the written word stirred up both my gratitude to God for the amazing opportunities He’s given and my desire to see even more of the world around me! Since completing the last chapter of Wonderlust, I’ve traveled to the islands of Sardinia, Sicily, and Minorca. I’ve pondered the architecture of Antoni Gaudí on the streets of Barcelona, my new favorite “big city.” I’ve hiked the Cinque Terra along the sun-drenched coast of Italy. And I’ve munched on moussaka in Monemvasia, where locals keep their house keys where they can easily be found—hanging outside from the keyhole on their front doors. (You can find out more about my recent journeys in my Travel Album.)
But it doesn’t matter whether we are meandering in Monemvasia or just wandering around the mall, every physical journey we take has a corresponding spiritual journey, beckoning us closer to the heart of God. I’ve shared a few of my journeys with you. I’d love if you returned the favor at vicki@vickikuyper.com. Your experiences just may find their way into print!