This morning I'm on a train ride from Sorrento to the Rome airport after 11 days doing things that were stretching and often surprising. I'm so glad I  went. I'm returning home invigorated.

Why go on such a journey? Because many of us are not living our best life. We are stuck, but don't know how to change. What we need what a only good journey can give.

I'm not talking about a journey into comfort. I'm talking about a journey where surprise and discovery can happen.

Such journeys place you in new environments where you don't know what to expect. They shake up all your routines and automated decisions, forcing you to think differently about your life.

A journey of discovery will take you out of your comfort zone. It may require that you navigate strange cultures, develop new relationships, and learn new ways of living. It may open up possibilities that you wouldn't otherwise consider.

A new culture will do that to you. Suffer from arachnophobia? Then you'll love Cambodia where they eat large spiders. Or travel to Peru and you might find yourself gagging when they serve you chicha, a drink made from chewed up yucca. Don't like snakes? Then you'll want to steer clear of the jungles of Papua New Guinea.

I remember visiting the home of an older couple in Lima. Their home was the residence of numerous pigeons, ducks, dogs, and some 50 guinea pigs. When we sat down for dinner, we discovered that our hostess had cooked up four of her finest guinea pigs. My first pet was a guinea pig named "Calico."

She served them on a platter. You could still see their little front teeth and whiskers. The skin was greasy. The hostess looked at us attentively to see if we liked her cooking. I hadn't counted on that part of the journey.

Many of us build our lives to maximize comfort and control. A good journey - one where you can see God's kingdom more clearly - will take you to places where you can feel out of control. Yes, you may be anxious. But that may force you to depend on God in new ways. And that may be just what you need to help you regain your sense of balance.

In that place of dependence, you'll find that he loves to show up and prove himself faithful.

My last 11 days have filled up my spirit as my uncertainty made me realize, "if God doesn't show up, I won't make it." I needed that. My train is close to arriving.  I'm thankful my life has repeatedly been filled with journeys like this one.