Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Luggage (08/15/05)
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TITLE: What will you take? | Previous Challenge Entry
By Karen Ward
08/21/05 -
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The interesting thing about luggage is that you don’t have it all with you at the same time. You only take as much as you think you need.
Some people are better than others at estimating what they will need. I once went on a week long trip with a male friend. We went by plane to our destination. I took my big blue suitcase with several outfits for casual wear, a few choices of shoes, and one or two special outfits for our evenings out. I also had a plethora of books, a notepad and pens. Just the essentials as far as I was concerned.
He took a carry on back pack with a spare jumper and an extra pair of undies! At least he packed his toothbrush.
I like to think I’ve become a little better at estimating what I need to take with me over the years. While I will probably never pack as light as my friend, I have slowly realized that I may not need a choice of books when I get there, and really, the likelihood of my falling in the 4th mud puddle and needing that last pair of trousers before I can get to a washing machine is perhaps less than I thought at first.
Spiritually, I’m sure I still have a lot to learn – but I’m trying to pack lighter these days.
When I used to go and visit my Mum, I would take all my memories. The happy ones and the sad ones. I would also pack all my grudges, niggles, and especially the buttons that I take with me for her to push.
Now I just take the buttons!
Well, OK, maybe the point is that I’m even trying to leave the buttons at home.
Some of this spiritual luggage is hard to leave behind. Sometimes, I lay these things at Jesus’ feet before I go, and then, when I awaken on my first morning and my mother comments on how much I’ve eaten for breakfast, bam! It seems the button has just followed me on its own!
Often I have to repack my spiritual backpack many times on the journey.
Owning the items is not the problem, it’s just what you decide to take, and where you take it. Those of us who have battled with things like unforgiveness know that sometimes you need to take that luggage with you to a place you can sort it out.
As long as it’s the right place.
Take it to a safe place, sort it out, and give it back to Jesus so that he can look after it until you need to deal with it again.
I know our sins are cast from us as far as the east is from the west, but sometimes, I find myself in the west again, and the only way to get home is to look for the sin so that you can give it back. But don’t take the unforgiveness where it shouldn’t go. Leave it behind and pack the forgiveness instead.
Or change the trip so that you can unpack it in the right place and leave it there before you move on.
Luggage always signifies a trip of some kind. A holiday, a business trip – even moving house. It’s what you take that’s important. Why else the saying about the kitchen sink?
Take what is appropriate to the journey.
We are always on a journey with Christ, and it’s very useful to have someone to carry the bags that you can’t handle on your own.
Don’t refuse His help.
If you find your baggage is too big or too heavy or there’s just too many bags, let him carry some for you.
He’s there waiting.
He can help us, His load is easy, He tells us that himself. “my yoke is easy and my burden is light”
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