NO EXCESS BAGGAGE
Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
Traveling
by air these days involves more than throwing some stuff in several
suitcases and then checking them for delivery at your destination.
First, it costs for every bag you check and also there are strict
rules about carry-on luggage. It takes a lot of planning to take just
what you need so you won't have to pay for careless packing and so
you will have the basics you need for your trip.
A
number of years ago I flew from Denver to a conference in New York
City. Although I thought I planned carefully for a week in New York,
I still checked a very large bag and stuffed my carry-on with
seemingly important things like paperback books and some fuzzy
bedroom slippers. Well, my bag got lost. It was sent back to me in
Denver eventually but I faced a week in New York with the shoes on my
feet, my travel outfit, some fuzzy bedroom slippers and a number of
paperback books. I did have a toothbrush in my carry-on bag. It's a
good thing it was a huge conference because I wore that same travel
outfit many times that week! I didn't arrive in New York City with
excess baggage but I certainly had useless baggage on that journey.
That
week I learned that I could survive quite well without excess
baggage. I could manage without endless mix and match outfits and eye
catching accessories. And I was able to do that without wearing my
fuzzy bedroom slippers on the sidewalks of New York. It wasn't always
comfortable but I did it. I also discovered that I could choose
to dwell on what I didn't have but I would have a much more
serene trip if I didn't take that path.
I
recall a very different journey whenever I visit Blue Spring west of
Eureka Springs off HW62--a journey that was made with no time for
planning nor packing possessions. I always take time to read the
account of the Cherokee people who wintered here on their journey on
the Trail of Tears--an eight hundred mile march. I think of the
Indian Removal Act of 1835.
It
is a story of a journey made without choice and with no preparation
by the travelers. It cannot be sugar coated. It is a story of
injustice and oppression. It is a story where there is no respect for
the dignity of every human being. Many men, women and children began
that journey without a single pair of moccasins on their feet and
little or no food for the journey. There would be no hospitality
along the trail. Many died on that trip. Preparation was not an
option for them. And none who ordered the removal shared any of their
shoes nor food with the Native Americans.
When
Jesus appointed seventy to travel in pairs ahead of him, he
instructed his followers on how to prepare for their journey. He was
quite specific:
Carry
no purse, no bag, no sandals.
They
were to journey forth in faith. He was sending them out like lambs in
the midst of wolves. They were to leave their excess baggage behind,
taking nothing extra as bargaining tools nor as insurance against
rejection. And I think Jesus was not just talking about physical
possessions but also about anything that would distract them from
their purpose on that journey. They were just to take themselves and
the good news.
He
told them: Remain in the same house eating and drinking whatever
they provide...
They
were to trust in the hospitality of others yet they were to be
prepared for rejection. As they prepared to travel, they were not to
stuff a bag with emergency food and drink but rather take only
themselves trusting that their needs would be met.
And
unlike the Cherokees and like us, they had a choice.
They could choose to go forth following the instructions Jesus gave
them or they could turn back and return to their old lives. Probably
many of the seventy chose to proceed. Probably some decided not to go
on after they heard the strings that were attached to making that
particular journey.
Isn’t
it interesting that their preparation for the journey was mostly
spiritual and mental? They didn’t obtain extra food or supplies or
clothes for the trip. They didn’t put off the journey until they
were fully ready. They had a choice about whether to make the
journey. When that decision was made, they just began one step and
one day at a time to move forward in faith on an amazing journey.
Their journey would not be easy even with no excess baggage to
distract them from their purpose.
We
can read the Biblical accounts of these followers of Jesus as
interesting history or we can read them as we seek to find ourselves
in those stories.
What
holds us back? Is it all our physical possessions that weigh us
down? Is it our internal baggage that saps our energy and focus and
binds us to the past or calls us to live in the future and not in the
present?
Yesterday
is past and we can’t change that even though we can learn from it.
Some of our national history is not so good and some is wonderful.
The Trail of Tears really happened. The ministry of people helping
the Native Americans also really happened.
We
especially remember today the men and women in our armed services who
have given of themselves and sometimes their lives to assure that we
the people in this country can choose our journeys. That really
happened and is happening still. Men and women continue to put
themselves in harm’s way so we may enjoy freedom and the ability to
choose.
What
we do with our freedom is up to us. Tomorrow isn’t here yet. We
can’t control how it will unfold.
We
just have today to prepare for our journey. We can choose to let go
of our excess baggage--both our physical possessions and that
internal baggage that sometimes holds us back. We can choose to
share our extra possessions instead of tightly clinging to them. We
can take our blinders off and focus, not on our "stuff" but
on those in our world who don't have even the basics.
We
can prepare our hearts and our minds for our journey. We can step
out into the world rejoicing in the power of the Spirit who walks
with us today. Our Lord still tells us: Carry no bag, no purse, no
sandals. We have everything we need and more.
We
enjoy the freedom of choice. Let us cherish that freedom as we
prepare for our journey letting go of our excess baggage so we may
clearly see the path. Let us begin the journey with grateful hearts.
We don't need all those bags because we don't travel alone.
Thanks
be to God!
Amen.
The Rev. Betsy Porter
St. James' Episcopal Church
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
July 4, 2010