Welcome Lovers of Wisdom.

Christmas is Holy. Ready. Set. Go.

What is the difference between a pilgrim and a tourist? This is the question of the day. Welcome back to Best Christmas Ever, where we are exploring 28 ways to make this your best Christmas ever. Number 11 is be a pilgrim, not a tourist. A pilgrimage is a sacred journey. For almost 30 years, we have been hosting pilgrimages to the Holy Land, Fatima, Lourdes, Paris, Rome, Assisi, Florence, and the Camino. On the opening night, as we welcome the pilgrims, we always ask them the same question; are you going to be a pilgrim, or are you going to be a tourist?

Tourists want everything to go exactly as they have planned and imagined it. They rush around from one place to another, making sure they cram everything in. They're constantly buying souvenirs and knick-knacks, many of which they will look at when they get home and wonder, "What was I thinking?" Tourists get upset if there are delays. They demand prompt attention and service to their every need and desire. They focus on themselves, often shoving past others to get where they want to go. Tourists go sightseeing. Tourists count the cost.

Pilgrims are very different. They look for signs. If a flight gets delayed or canceled, they ask, "What is God trying to say to me?" Pilgrims are not concerned with seeing and doing everything, just the things they feel called to see and do. They are not obsessed with shopping. They are aware of the needs of others. Pilgrims go looking for meaning. Pilgrims count their blessings. The reality is we are all pilgrims. This planet we call Earth is not our home. We're just passing through. We build homes and establish ourselves here on Earth in ways that ignore that we are really just here for a short time. It is a dangerous pastime to live as if you were never going to die. But consciously or unconsciously, we all fall into this trap to various degrees.

We are only here on Earth for the blink of an eye. This is not our home. That's why the happiness that God wants and created us for is very different from the fleeting happiness and momentary pleasures of this world. God created us for lasting happiness in a changing world and eternal happiness with him in heaven. The happiness he wants for us in this life is a rare kind of happiness that is not dependent on situations or circumstances. It's easy to be happy when everything is going well. But Christian joy allows us to be happy like Paul was when he was in prison.

Do you ever think about heaven? It seems to me we don't talk about it anywhere near as much as we should. When Rudyard Kipling was very seriously ill, a nurse asked him, "Is there anything you want?" He replied, "I want God." We all do. We may not be aware of it, but we want God. Behind every desire for a new car or a new house, a promotion or accomplishment, clothes and jewelry, plastic surgery, adventure and travel, food and sex, acceptance and comfort, is our desire for God. We are always hungry for something more complete, and God is that completeness that we yearn for from the very depths of our soul. We're just passing through, and it's helpful to remind ourselves of that from time to time. In the context of eternity, we are only here for the blink of an eye. Realizing this changes our priorities. At the same time, we are here for a reason. You are here for a reason. God has a mission for you.

Life? A life is a pilgrimage, a sacred journey. Typically, a pilgrimage is a journey to a religious shrine or a location important to a person's faith or beliefs. You can make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, to Rome, to Fatima, to Lourdes, to Camino, or any of the famous Christian sites around the world. But you could also make a pilgrimage to your nearest cathedral. In fact, every Sunday, you make a pilgrimage to your local parish for mass. Very often, people make pilgrimages with special intentions in mind. Some ask God for a favor, perhaps to heal a loved one who is sick. Others make a pilgrimage in thanksgiving for a blessing they have already received from God. There are always couples on our trips who are celebrating a wedding anniversary. They are making the trip to thank God for their marriage. On every trip, our priests choose one of the holy places and invites every couple on the trip to renew their marriage vows. Powerful. I cannot even describe how powerful and moving this is. I have seen it many, many times, but it still moves me. Sometimes people make a pilgrimage seeking clarity on some decision they have to make.

Life? A life is a pilgrimage, but sometimes you need a pilgrimage to discover life. We are journeying in this life toward the sacred city, toward the heart of God, toward heaven. Nobody makes the journey alone. We all need companions. Some of my very best friends in this world I met on pilgrimages. These trips that Dynamic Catholic hosts are life-altering. And when you experience something like that with other people, you form a very special bond. The best friends in the world encourage us and challenge us to become the best version of ourselves, and by doing so, they help us to get to heaven. Let's pray for the grace to be pilgrims and not just tourists. Let's pray for the grace to be the kind of friend who helps others in the great pilgrimage of life.

This is A Pilgrim's Prayer by Thomas Merton. "My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And and I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore, I will trust you always. Though I may seem lost and in the shadow of death, I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. We are just passing through this place we call Earth. At every turn, we attempted to be tourists, but we are pilgrims. Adopt the attitude of a pilgrim, the heart of a pilgrim this Christmas.

Wait, before you go, my dad has one more tip, and you're not going to want to miss this.

It's not easy to have a great Christmas in a world where everyone is striving for what isn't worth having. Welcome back to 28 obstacles that will prevent you from having your best Christmas ever. Obstacle number 11 is materialism. Materialism will destroy your Christmas. Things are great, gifts are wonderful, but getting caught up in the material can block the spiritual reality which is of primary importance. Materialism can also lead us down the toxic path of comparisons, especially in a culture obsessed with pretending and displaying the pretending on social media every minute of the day. Both materialism and comparing ourselves to others leaves us feeling empty. But remember, find your joy, guard your joy, follow your joy, not just happiness. It seems our culture has confused happiness with comfort. And following comfort will lead you to misery. Find your joy. Cherish your joy. Guard your joy and follow your joy.

Do you feel too busy, overwhelmed, stressed? You aren't alone. A sense of joyless urgency is dominating our culture. The sheer speed and busyness we have adopted isn't how life was intended to be lived. It's time for a new strategy. It's time to slow down to the speed of joy. Right now, when you become a Dynamic Catholic Ambassador, we will send you a free copy of Slowing Down to the Speed of Joy. So click the button below and join today.

Have a great day!