Baggage

Have you ever watched someone with multiple pieces of obviously heavy pieces of luggage trying to make their way through the airport? It’s quite a sight, isn’t it? Maybe you’ve even been that person before…questioning whether or not you really needed to pack 3 different outfits and 2 pairs of shoes for each day of your trip. PBS travel Guru, Rick Steve’s advises travelers to pack just one carry-on suitcase for a trip. That seems a little far to the other extreme. I don’t think I could pack everything I need for a weekend at the beach in one carry-on sized bag, never mind a 2 week trip to Europe!

Unfortunately, lots of us are weighed down by another kind of baggage…emotional baggage. Just like that poor guy trying to make his way through the airport with 3 or 4 heavy suitcases, emotional baggage makes our journey through life so much more difficult and strenuous. It trips us up, weighs us down and just makes us miserable! So, what is packed in our emotional bags? Usually they are full of past hurts that we carry with us, giving us a dim out look and getting in the way of healthy relationships with others. We don’t need these things, yet we carry them around with us everywhere we go.

The good news is that there is a kind Gentleman who wants to help us with our bags…he’s willing to take them from us, freeing us from our burden. His name is Jesus and here is what he has to say to those of us who are still carrying our own bags, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30