Cassie Yoshikawa
8 min read ⭑
“Places like Yosemite Valley make even those who don’t know God lose their breath as reverent silence voices their wonder. That is what draws people to travel. They are having these eat-pray-love moments and experiencing God’s presence but labeling it as something else.”
QUESTION #1: ACQUAINT
There’s much more to food than palate and preference. How does a go-to meal at your favorite hometown restaurant reveal the true you behind the web bio?
Ask any local, and most will tell you that DogHouse Grill’s sliced tri-tip sandwich on a toasted French roll with seasoned fries is Fresno’s go-to meal. They will proudly tell you that Central California is the agricultural capital of the United States. Just one drive from the Pacific Coast across the middle of the state to the Sierra Nevada will give you more than enough cow farm sightings to satisfy a road trip, let alone the entire nation.
But until moving here five years ago, I had never even heard of tri-tip. Because in the South, we would call it brisket. And while I can’t complain about growing up accustomed to brisket and down-home cooking, I’d much rather have the sea-to-ski lifestyle that the West Coast promises.
So what is the difference between tri-tip and brisket? I could probably Google it. But I feel like a true Fresnan just knowing that tri-tip is the way we do it around here. And while I’m not born and raised, I fulfill my lifelong dream of being a Californian whenever I can offer the local favorite as my own.
Heather Wilde; Unsplash
QUESTION #2: REVEAL
We’ve all got quirky proclivities and out-of-the-way interests. So what are yours? What so-called “nonspiritual” activities do you love and help you find spiritual renewal?
To me, one of life’s simplest yet greatest pleasures is enjoying the sun.
And I’m not alone.
It’s one of my favorite things to see when an animal is just sprawled out in complete relaxation in the sun. I call it “Sunshine Club” when I walk into the living room, and my pups are belly up in a random patch of floor where the sun is beaming through the window.
Sure, there’s a scientifically proven mood boost from Vitamin D. But the Psalms also describe God as our sun and shield.
Sunshine Club is how I physically imagine God’s presence — life-giving, all-encompassing and big enough to supply the earth, yet close enough to be felt on my own skin. Of course, the bucket list spot to have Sunshine Club is on Ko’Olina beach in Hawaii. But the feeling is the same on the patio of my local coffee shop or curled up next to my dog in the living room.
QUESTION #3: CONFESS
Every superhero has a weakness. Every human, too. We’re just good at faking it. But who are we kidding? We’re broken and in this thing together. So what’s your kryptonite and how do you hide it?
It’s pretty tough to be a travel blogger and have travel as your weakness, but here we are.
Rather, travel is one shape that my kryptonite can take.
I’ve recently realized that I have an issue with control. Whenever I feel stressed or uncertain about an outcome, I compensate by fixating on something that I can control. Research a destination. Plan the itinerary. Control every hour and minute of my future adventure. Instead of turning to the Lord, I tend to collect experiences and destinations as a way to cope. It’s easy to believe the lie that problems will disappear once I’m on vacation. My full attention can be given to God once I’m stress free.
While travel is definitely not a bad thing, when travel planning gives me comfort, I know I’m operating in unhealth. One big red flag I look out for is when I start planning the next destination while I’m already on a trip. That’s when I know I need to step back and reflect.
QUESTION #4: FIRE UP
Tell us about your toil. How are you investing your professional time right now? What’s your obsession? And why should it be ours?
In 2018, I noticed that the travel industry was desperately missing God. I loved discovering new destinations through travel blogs and influencers, but it all felt idolatrous. It became trendy to worship creation and “mother earth,” but no one was acknowledging the Creator of it all.
I started my blog, Cassie’s Compass, because I believe there’s more to Christian travel than mission trips and church tours. Every destination deepens my love for God. I’m working to show people that the subtle draw to travel more or the inexplicable, deep-pitted wonder you get at sunset is actually God’s attributes — namely, his eternal power and divine nature — being clearly perceived (see Romans 1:20).
Whether it’s a once-in-a-lifetime road trip to hike the natural wonder of the Grand Canyon or a flight back home to meet your little cousins and go to a waterpark, all travel is Christian travel because it all can help you get to know God better. You just have to be open to his presence.
To help with this, I recently created a devotional study meant to guide your quiet time for the six days leading up to your next trip. Actively surrendering your itinerary to God before your departure will help you be more aware of his presence and open to his will no matter where you go.
QUESTION #5: BOOST
Cashiers, CEOs, contractors or customer service reps, we all need grace flowing into us and back out into the world. How does the Holy Spirit invigorate your work? And how do you know it’s God when it happens?
The Spirit constantly uses travel to help me understand Scripture better and reframe my perspective on travel itself. I know it’s the Holy Spirit because these lessons align with Scripture and bring me closer to God.
The best example of this happened when I was in Santorini, Greece. I was looking forward to seeing God’s splendor by watching the sun set across white Cycladic homes on the cliffside overlooking the Aegean Sea.
However, my spot was so packed with tourists that it ruined my experience. I was so annoyed.
What could be sacred about a selfie stick obstructing my view?
But then it struck me how incredible it was that all these people were getting to experience such a stunning sunset, too. God created more than the sunset I was so focused on seeing. The tourists standing next to me were his masterpiece, too.
Seeing tourists this way has made travel more enjoyable and has expanded what it means to enjoy God’s creation. Standing in line or being stuck in a crowd is a whole new opportunity to worship God for what he’s made.
QUESTION #6: inspire
Scripture and tradition beckon us into the rich and varied actions that open our hearts to the presence of God. So spill it, which spiritual practice is workin’ best for you right now?
I won’t pretend like I didn’t just thumb through all the spiritual practices so that I could offer a cooler response than the cliché “silence and solitude in the great outdoors.” But on second thought, I love that nature is so closely associated with these disciplines.
Seeing the vast expanse of Yosemite Valley from Taft Point will make anyone feel minuscule. And by myself, in the silence, it is so easy to embrace my smallness and make much of God instead. Places like this make even those who don’t know God lose their breath as reverent silence voices their wonder.
That is what draws people to travel. They are having these eat-pray-love moments and experiencing God’s presence but labeling it as something else.
My motivation for incorporating faith into my content is to inspire readers on a spiritual level and point them to the true source of their wonder. Using a relatable practice to reach people who are already seeking inspiration gives me a more profound purpose as a travel blogger. So I embrace the ease and universal popularity of silence and solitude in nature.
QUESTION #7: FOCUS
Our email subscribers get free ebooks featuring our favorite resources — lots of things that have truly impacted our faith lives. But you know about some really great stuff, too. What are three resources that have impacted you?
I recently stumbled on a fun subscription. Each month, Dwell Differently sends me a pack of temporary tattoos of an acrostic Bible verse design, and I spend one month memorizing one verse every time I see the tattoo on my wrist.
Sound biblical teaching has also made a profound impact on me. I can always count on my home church, The Well Community Church, to teach expositionally through the bible. And as a frequent traveler, I love how accessible their teaching is. I can tune in live from across the globe or catch up by listening to their sermon Spotify playlist.
Lastly, it won’t come as a shock that a trip is on my list. I wish everyone could experience visiting the Holy Land at least once in their lifetime. Seeing Israel made the Bible come to life, almost like going from black and white to technicolor. I visited on a tour with my pastors from The Well, but GTI Tours also offers options for individuals to join a group study tour. While it will require planning and saving, I think GTI is a great resource because they make visiting Israel obtainable for even those who are not travelers. GTI covers all logistics and partners with knowledgeable, certified local guides. I can’t think of anything that will impact you more.
We all have things we cling to to survive (or thrive) in tough times. Name one resource you’ve found indispensable in this current season — and tell us what it’s done for you.
I am currently in a 12-step program called Re:generation Recovery. Even typing that out makes me cringe — that sounds like something for an addict or someone who’s blown up their life, not for someone like me. But as humans on this side of eternity, we are all in need of the gospel, and we are all recovering from something (like control).
This process has helped me recognize the sin patterns in my life. It’s how I discovered that when I feel stressed or unfulfilled, instead of turning to the Lord, I plan trips.
Since starting re:gen, I have been able to travel deeper. Now, travel is in its proper place as a means of worship. Instead of traveling to cope, I travel to get to know God better.
I heard re:gen described as a slow drip of the gospel, and that’s exactly what each step is. It has shown me what living in true freedom in Christ looks like. Re:gen is a curriculum from Watermark Church in Dallas. It takes about a year to complete with daily bookwork and weekly group meetings. There are programs that meet virtually as well as in person all over the United States.
QUESTION #8: dream
God is continually stirring new things in each of us. So give us the scoop! What’s beginning to stir in you but not yet fully awakened? What can we expect from you in the future?
My ideas for what’s next for Cassie’s Compass are just as long as my bucket list — something new is added every day. I enjoyed creating my pre-trip devotional, so my subscribers might just get a series for during-travel and post-trip reflection. I’ve also pondered the idea of leading a group travel retreat. There are so many manifestation and yoga retreats out there. What would it look like to have fun immersing yourself in a fun destination and have focused time to praise and worship God?
One thing for sure is that you can expect to see more Christian travel resources published on my blog. My goal will always be for readers to come for unique and carefully curated destination guides, but that they would leave with a spiritual connection that stays with them long after their journey ends.
Above anything, my prayer for Cassie’s Compass, as with anything in life, is that it would glorify God.
How do we view our vacation time? As an opportunity to simply unplug from stress and work? Or also as a chance to see God in new ways and connect with him on an even deeper level?
The psalmist’s attitude challenges us to choose the latter: “For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy” (Psalm 92:4, ESV).
In the same way, as Cassie continues to share inspiring Scriptures, prayers, and travel devotionals, she hopes more and more people can view this amazing world the way God intended — with wonder and worship.
Cassie believes there is more to Christian travel than volunteer trips and church tours. Every destination deepens her love for God, and her mission is to inspire that same love in others. On her blog, Cassie’s Compass, she curates destination guides and shows you how travel can deepen your faith, too. Follow along for the perspective of a Christian traveler who recognizes God as the creator of this beautiful world that we get to explore. You can also follow Cassie on Instagram.
