Learning to Travel Light
It was with a mixture of both pride and dismay that I surveyed the entire back area of our Ford Escape. The second-row seats had been folded flat so all that space was filled with, for lack of a better term, cargo. Great job of packing, but will I never learn to travel light?
We were preparing to leave for a much-anticipated family vacation at a cabin in Missouri. Once again, I had tried to pack to cover every activity and contingency that might arise during our drive and the 6-day stay. Ironically, I ended up leaving the one, nonperishable food bag that I so thoughtfully packed -- and one that would have eliminated a grocery run upon arrival -- sitting in plain sight in our dining room. That oversight bothered me more than I like to admit!
When I focus on my lists and on “no item left behind”, some of the joyful anticipation of the vacation is lost. I become wrapped up in the “stuff” instead of living fully in the moment. Organization and advance planning come easy to me. It’s how my mind tends to work. It is also the Martha-side of my personality coming out. When I focus so much of my time and energy on those processes, I neglect other things – like that “better part” Jesus reminded Martha (and us) about in Luke 10:42. During these moments I need to ask for more grace to travel light. I need the discipline of traveling light for everyday living but, even more so, in my spiritual life.
True Confession: even during my prayer time I bring a lot of baggage with me. My concerns for family and friends... worries about the state of the world…how am I going to accomplish what by when…etc., etc. Hopefully I do remember to bring at least a backpack’s worth of praise and gratitude to the Lord each day. Unfortunately, that is often accompanied by a laundry list of wants and needs.
God is so often reminding me to go right ahead and bring all my luggage to Him. What I should not expect is for Him to open every suitcase, examine its contents and show me when and where to use each item. God does not focus on the stuff nor does He operate like an airport Customs Officer. God simply wants me to drop the bags and sit with Him. And when I exit my prayer time, that baggage should stay behind. Unclaimed, unwanted, unnecessary. He, my loving Father God, I should always bring along with me.
