Now that I believe that I am in a safe place, I realize that I have been in free fall for the last 18 months or so. I wish I could say: ‘like a cat that has jumped off a tree branch, knowing where it is going to land and how, and confident that it will land safely’ … but I can’t.
The free fall I am talking about is more like:
Woa! Woosh! Oh no! That looks like quick sand! Bang! Ouch! That hurt! … where am I going? Why does it feel like I am heading nowhere? … or somewhere not very nice? … oh! thank God! … that looks like a rope … God has thrown me a rope to save me! Thank You God! If I swing out towards that rope, I will be carried safely to a safe place….
Aargh! that burns! I am too heavy to carry myself… why can’t I hold on to the rope? I am falling! God help me! …. Oh… I have too much baggage from the past? I need to throw it off? ok… Now when did I let go of the rope again? Ok, there it is, let me swing towards it and try again… ok, maybe if I hold on tight I will be able to carry on safely this time… no! No! I can’t hold on, what is going on? I am still too heavy!’
So I learned to throw off the baggage from the past, the baggage of materialism, the baggage of village-centric superstition, the baggage of independence and self reliance, the baggage of pride, the baggage of trying to be part of the world, the baggage of being holier than the world… the baggage of fear, the baggage list seemed endless… and so I have reached this place. I am not sure what other baggage I still have on me, but I think I am close to landing.
And as I cling to God, I know I need to throw off all unnecessary baggage so that I can be lifted up high enough to see and get to that safe place where God is taking me… A journey with less baggage and during which, and at the end of which I can be better able to obey God and do all He wants me to do in my daily life. A journey with that much less baggage that allows me to be ready to receive those blessings that God has in store for me. Meanwhile, I shout as loud as I can to those around me about how great a lesson God is teaching me and how wonderful the experience of being lifted up by Him is, when I resolutely relieve myself of so much unnecessary baggage.
Do you feel like you are falling? Is it time you got rid of some unnecessary baggage and held on to God instead?
No, it is not going to be easy, you are likely to encounter scratches, bruises and hair raising moments. No, there is no shortcut. No, you will not be able to sleep your life away, you will still have to work hard from day to day for your daily bread. Holding on to God, just means that you put God first and so do your best at doing whatever you do in uprightness, so that God’s name is glorified.
It is hard to hold on to God when your hands, heart, mind, life are chock full of so much baggage. I am so glad God has shown me to throw out all that baggage.
Wanna join me?
Come … walk with me in the Garden.
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