traveling light

Have you ever planned a trip and packed up more than you really needed? Most of us have. We haul our baggage out to the car, haul it into the terminal, and lug it around some more while waiting to board. It's a common sight. We usually have too much baggage to handle comfortably.

In an attempt to make things easier for us, we are allowed to 'check' some of our baggage. But, like everything else on the planet, that privilege comes with a price-tag. Not only do you pay an extra monetary fee, there is the slight chance that any baggage that leaves your own watchful eye could actually go astray and become 'lost.'

The very idea sends signals for an anxiety attack for many, and so we stuff everything we can into the largest carry-on allowed, and stow it in the overhead. Then we watch the baggage cart and make sure that we see our checked bags loaded onto the plane. Now we can relax. All our of stuff is only inches away!

One of my favorite musical groups, back in the day, was Herman's Hermits. I still smile when I hear any of their tunes on the radio. But recently, for no apparent reason, a particular song popped into my head and took up residence for a few days...this is me: smiling, as I hum the lyrics...

"Got no bags and baggage to slow me down,
 I'm a-travelin' so fast my feet ain't touchin' the ground...
 Travelin' light...travelin' light,
 And I just can't wait to be with my baby tonight."

And...you guessed it...that got me to thinking...

For their purposes, the travel industry (particularly, the airlines) defines 'checked' as "being consigned to a common carrier." Imagine that! Our bags are actually intended to be loaded on the same plane that we are on, going to and arriving at the same destination. Ah, yes...in a perfect world. Perhaps the solution is as simple as the song suggests: just travel light, take only what you really need.

Compare the way we live with taking a trip, going on a journey. We often pack up more than we really need and just haul it around. We collect extra baggage made up of doubt, worries and fears, unresolved bitterness, jealousy and strife...the list goes on and on. If we insist on dragging all this stuff around with us everywhere, eventually, the inevitable happens: we can no longer board with all of it...it must be checked and stowed below. In reality, that's not such a bad idea...'check' the extra baggage...consign it to the Father (who loves you!) and allow Him to take possession of it.

Or, better yet...stop taking any extra baggage that might need to be checked, and practice traveling light. You'll find that everything you really need will be there when you arrive at your final destination. Replace worry with a lighter load...faith. Replace that unforgiving thought with something that takes up less space...mercy and grace. Pack love and generosity and take it everywhere instead of all the extra baggage that accumulates when we are self-centered and unforgiving. As you journey through this life...my prayer is that you will always travel light!

Just relax...and enjoy the journey!