Book Review: For the Weary Life Traveler by Christine F. Perry
Traveling is something my husband and I love to do, and we’re excited to introduce our baby boy to our favorite places as he grows up. However, not all travel is smooth-sailing, and sometimes, plans gone wrong can leave us feeling weary.
When I read Christine F. Perry’s title for her latest release, it immediately resonated with me due to my own passion for travel and ensuing misadventures … like the time in Sicily where our rental car died at five in the morning, the back-up train never showed up, and then my debit card wouldn’t work for the taxi driver. Praise God my friend and I both made our flights!
For the Weary Life Traveler, a 31-Day Devotional isn’t just about physical travel though. It’s ultimately about our spiritual journey. Perry uses travel as a metaphor for our walk with the Lord, and her parallels are relatable and genuine.
Book Overview & Review
From the beginning, Perry’s concept hooked me. Her introduction talks about all the waiting involved in travel, and how we so often have to “wait” in life when other people seem to have no trouble with arrivals and departures. How do we learn to be content in our lane instead of comparing ourselves to others? It’s only by leaning into Jesus. As Perry writes, “His timing and our timing don’t always line up. But there are things to do and beauty to discover in the waiting.”
Perry then dives into 31 days of devotionals, each with a travel theme that dovetails with our Christian experience. Each one begins with Scripture, and then she shares from her own story to help develop the travel analogy. Lastly, she ends with a challenge for the reader.
The devotionals are short and ideal for a quick refocusing of our day. I could see reading one on a work break or over breakfast. Their bitesize length could serve as a complement to quiet time or a brief perspective shift during a busy day.
One of my favorites is called “Unnecessary Baggage” where Perry recounts the time she had to downsize her luggage to meet the weight requirements. She writes, “When I packed the first time, I didn’t intend to have excess weight. The same happens in life. Sometimes we think certain things are important. Then God allows circumstances and people to remind us of what is most important.”
Amen to that!
Target Audience
This book strikes me as something that would encourage new adults and adults alike, especially those who are in waiting seasons or discouraged that life isn’t turning out the way they had planned. It will especially resonate with readers who love travel.
Parting Thought
Even if you prefer traveling no further than your local beach, I think we can all agree that life is a journey, and we are simply pilgrims on this earth. I appreciate Perry’s reminder that no matter what we encounter along the way, we can rest in the promise that God is leading us and will lead us safely home.
~ Kristen
About the Author
Christine F. Perry is number five in a family of seven children and the author of How I Met Peace. She has managed a sub shop, produced live television broadcasts, taught karate, and worked at a crisis pregnancy center. A marathoner, who holds a black belt in Kempo and a Black Sash in Gung Fu, she has traveled to nearly 20 countries but can normally be found writing, with family and friends, or on a new adventure, especially when there is coffee involved. Christine currently resides in sunny South Florida.
From the Back Cover
This 31-day devotional reminds us that life is a journey, and we, as believers, are travelers passing through. Along the way, we will grow weary and tired. In life, we will go from season to season, but we can find comfort in the character and promises of God, knowing He will lead us safely home.
