FAITH OBSERVANCE: Going Northwest - The Trip That Opened My Eyes

Capsonart

Jul 13

9 min read

Dear Beloved Writer, Reader, and Friend,

Wherever you are at this moment, reading these words, I pray for you. I pray that your day will be marked by release, breakthrough, and promises fulfilled. These words come to me as I reel from a trip that stirred the embers of inspiration and a deep call in my spirit.

Originally, this post was supposed to go up on the first Monday of July. However, the more I settled into what I wanted to share, the more I sensed the gentle ministering of what needed to be said. With every passing moment that I navigated my inner thoughts, I couldn’t shake the feels of the trip that opened my eyes, and roused my perspective to see the world in a different light.

I questioned how I could capture those moments in a cohesive form, and aligned it's context to Capsonart's narrative. I purposefully took a moment to step away from the computer and just let the day flow. Around the evening time, as I reread what I wrote, the ministering of the words emerged. The value of my trip was underlined, and I began to write what I truly wanted to say.

FOR YOU MY DEAR WRITER

This is a note. Perhaps even a gentle encouragement—to you, my fellow writer. I've noticed something about the writing process when I begin to write, and allow the words to sit with me for a while. The struggle is there. It is real. And I'll go back and forth, wrestling with ideas and searching for the right direction. But when I step away and later return, something changes. The words begin to flow with greater clarity. The writer within me awakens. I'm no longer wrestling with context, searching for the right alliterations, or trying to force the heart of what I want to say. Instead, the message begins to find its own voice, and I, the writer, simply become its steward.

Before I delve into what I want to share, I would like to let you know that we will be showcasing what I captured during my recent trip to the Northwest in our next Issue of Authors Speak E-Magazine.

The images shared here will also be included as part of that feature. I look forward to exploring the creative possibilities of bringing this experience to life through our next editorial spread. I can't wait to share both the images and the story they continue to tell.

For now, I want to delve into HOW a trip to the Yukon awakened something profound within my spirit. Through this experience, I discovered lessons that have reshaped the way I view the writing process—the importance of patience, reflection, and allowing words to unfold in their own time. Beyond that, it reaffirmed how purpose can reveal itself in the most unexpected places. This can happen in ways that are beyond we know and are familiar. It also reminded me that stepping outside of our comfort zones and into the unknown can open the door to meaningful connections. Simply interacting with other people can shift our perspective, challenge our assumptions, and offer a fresh view on life that we may never have discovered otherwise.

The Trip That Shaped My View:

Lessons From the Road

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going | Hebrews 11:8

Since I was a child, as far back as I can remember, there have been certain parts of this magnificent world that I have seen and have yet to see. But for the places I have ventured to – in and outside of Canada, each journey has taught me something new. The world we know from a ground perspective, the familiar places where we live—is only the tip of the iceberg. We can ONLY imagine things as they are until we step beyond our own circumference and dare to walk on water.

But let’s go back a bit.

My Inhibitions, and Leading Up To The Trip

It was a fine, sunny day, just a few days before Father’s Day. I was caught between the anxiousness of preparing for a trip and the urge to complete my project tasks. I hadn’t prepared any posts or content to publish on Capsonart’s daily blog. In fact, my attention was divided because I was preparing for my departure, unlike any I had taken before.

I was going to the Yukon! I was going to Dawson City, a place where the sidewalks are literally boardwalks. That in and of itself is a story.

Prior to the week I was to travel from Vancouver to Whitehorse, I had been locked into my own mission. I wanted to focus on the work before me, which was preparing content, and focusing on the projects Capsonart had in the canon. Amid the myriad my inner fixations, I expressed to my family, particularly, that I wanted to stay home.

I DID NOT want to leave nor get caught in the activities – the ups and downs – of travelling to a place I didn’t know. I DID NOT want to be taken out of my comfort zone.

With the unknown before me, a few notions swirled in my mind about what I would experience in the Yukon. One of them was a fascination that had rested in my curiosity: the sun that never sleeps and the everlasting nights.

I had absolutely no clue what that would feel like, but one thing was certain: I knew going to the Yukon would take me beyond what I was accustomed to. And, like someone humming to themselves to shake off a tinge of discomfort, I found myself singing, “Lions, tigers, and bears... oh my!”

But there is something I have learned from this entire experience, which I relate to my own craft of writing and other personal experiences. When we remain within the boundaries of what we know, we limit our capacity to discover, experience, and understand more. Of all the ventures I have embarked upon, each one has been a unique gem that I continue to cherish. This particular journey, however, taught me a valuable lesson about being present: not missing the moment, but embracing it, capturing it, and allowing it to become part of the story that I CAN WRITE.

Most importantly, I learned the importance of aligning myself with the Holy Spirit’s agenda—as He guides me toward what I need to know, experience, and LIVE.

When we live and experience our present reality, it becomes are greatest chapter.

The Call, Writing and Narratives that Challenge Us

Like the act of engaging with an unknown reality, the craft of writing, creating and sharing our life experiences, do challenge us in different ways. The world, brimming with earth, land, people, sky, and sun, CAN compels us to remain still, or become deeply uncomfortable. We are given choices: flight, fight, or freeze. When we are trying to find where we can ground ourselves and answer the questions of “who…what” or “why” we often retreat to the place where it feels easier to give up and return to what feels safe. Unlike the confidence and courage I often feel when stepping to the edge of creativity, walking along the Yukon River placed me completely beyond my comfort level. Yet it was in that unfamiliar space that I began to understand the value of discomfort.

During an exploration of the Yukon river in White Horse, I was with a group of fellow church members. We were led across a suspension bridge, and to think I was not one to be afraid of heights, this bridge exposed that truth. Warnings signs were bright red; cautioning against “jumping”. Below was the river with a depth I could not calculate if I tried.

Shaking and singing to calm my nerves, I walked across the bridge, sighing with relief when I finally made it over. But it didn’t end there. We were then led along the river's edge, where one wrong step could have sent me slipping into the watery depths. I literally saw my life, my family and all I had yet to accomplish. I unceremoniously chuckled and breathed as hard as I could to ground my anxiety. I gripped the hand of my dear beloved sister, who graciously led me all the way. In my mind, I promised myself, “Never again!”

But what this experience awakened in me, as I prayed to make it back alive, was the prompt: I needed to see the world. Get out. Get out of isolation. Get out of hoping, wishing and waiting

Stepping out of my comfort zone and into the unknown, was truly a blessing. Simply interacting with people and experiencing a landscape unlike any I had known before, shifted my perspective in unexpected ways. It contested for how I viewed both writing and purpose; reminding me that growth can begin where certainty ends.

Perfect example:

I am drafting this blog, and I find myself feeling strangely out of sorts. I am confronted by what I want to say, who I am saying it to, and the constant worry of how it will come across. Much like standing at the edge of the Yukon River, there is a vulnerability in putting our thoughts into the world and trusting that they will find their intended place. To overcome that antagonist—my fear and the swirl of thoughts competing for attention—I simply keep writing. At this moment, as I reach over 2000 words, I’m intentionally being transparent. I’m purposefully showing the process of how writing something can push us against a wall or stump us. The emotions we experience are real. The uncertainty, hesitation, and moments of doubt are part of the creative process. But the power comes from knowing that we do not have to be controlled by fear. We do not have to be controlled by perfection. And fear may attempt to tell a false narrative, but it does not have to define the story.

Instead of weakening our writing, those moments of struggle can shape our perspective and add depth, texture, and authenticity to the words we use to convey what we are truly experiencing. In the rule of creativity, keep writing. Guess what? I made it across the edge, stood on a mound, crossed back over the bridge, and eventually made it home.

The “Not-So” Conclusion of the Matter

Faith, culture, spirit, and love are the dance of our souls.

As I reflect on this journey and speak from my own personal confession, I have learned that we can become so consumed by our own expectations that we overlook the lights guiding us toward a different path. We can miss the story of a lifetime. We can pass by the soul of a place waiting for someone to recognize it, embrace it, and share its story.

If we are not careful, our perspective can determine the direction we take. But when we allow the light to reveal what tomorrow may hold, we are given the opportunity to choose differently. We are given the chance to love. We are given the courage to sing again. And most importantly, we become a light that shines so brightly it cannot be ignored.

For me, that light comes with a responsibility to serve wherever I am planted. Through this journey, I discovered that every place carries a story, and every moment holds an invitation to listen. Dawson City was more than a destination—it became a reminder that the landscapes we encounter can reveal the landscapes within us.

Travelling into the unknown awakened eyes that had been asleep for far too long. I discovered that the simple act of travelling does more than take us to new places—it reveals something new within us. What began as a step beyond what was familiar became a reminder that some of life’s greatest lessons are found where we least expect them.

Sometimes, the journey that changes us the most is the one we never planned to take. I was so focused on not coming out of my writers cave, I almost missed beauty that lives outside of my dwelling place.

SOMETHING FOR YOU TO THINK ABOUT

• Have you ever stepped outside your comfort zone for the sake of faith?

• What place has stayed with you long after you returned home?

• Has writing ever helped you work through discomfort or fear?

Sometimes the greatest gift we can give ourselves is a step of faith… in other words, a trip.

If you are working on your current draft, thinking about your next project, or wondering if you can even begin one, I challenge you: take a trip. Get out there. See the world. Talk to people. Spend time in God's Word. Whether you write fiction or non-fiction, the world around you is brimming with prompts waiting to inspire an experience you will never forget. Every conversation, landscape, and unexpected encounter holds the potential to awaken a story within you.

Even if you are not a writer but simply enjoy a good read, take a trip and allow yourself to live in the moment. You may be surprised by what you discover—not only about the world around you, but also about yourself.

Happy writing and reading.

P.S. Check out Capsonart Publishing's Journey in our first issue of Authors Speak, where we share our beginnings and reflect on how far we have come.

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