Spiritual Matters

Many religions have a Traveler's Prayer.  There's a Jewish, Orthodox Christian, and even an Islamic prayer.  (Beliefnet has a listing of all the Traveler's Prayers).  My  personal favorite, however, the Traveler's Hymn, the Psalm 121. 

Years ago, I was selected as an exchange student at my high school.  I had never been anywhere before, so this was my first time traveling and certainly my first time on an airplane.  Before boarding the plane, in 1975, my mother gave me a hug and handed me a folded piece of paper, and said to me,"This is the Traveler's Prayer.  Recite it before the plan takes off."

When I got on the plane, I opened the piece of paper and on it she had scrawled Psalm 121.  I did as she had asked then, and continue to do it today.  Part of my pre-travel routine has become the Psalm 121.  I get a sense of peace and security when I recite it.  In helps to solidify my faith.  And it reminds me of my mother.  Each time I recite it, I find myself back at that small airport in 1975 getting ready to fly for the first time. 

My faith is extremely important to me. It is part of who I am.  I have made reciting the Psalm a tradition.  Perhaps you have a similar tradition.  If you don't, I offer you mine:

Psalm 121

A song of ascents.

 1 I lift up my eyes to the hills