Traveling Light
Friday, January 20, 2023
“He instructed them to take nothing for the journey except a walking stick – no bread, no bags, and no money in their belts.” ~ Mark 6:8 CEB
Dear St. Paul’s Family,
Nothing except a walking stick? Seriously? I don’t even go to the grocery store without a full water bottle, on a walk without Kleenex and Chap Stick in a pocket, or to the office at church without my purse and my backpack with a couple of pieces of fruit and cheese sticks.
I come by this behavior honestly. Mom always a bag in her trunk with a toothbrush and change of underwear just in case she got stuck “in town” and couldn’t get home. In the winter, she would throw in a bag of kitty litter, just in case she got stuck in the snow. Her theory was that kitty litter thrown under her tires would provide the traction necessary to escape. My sisters and I had another theory – that highly absorbent kitty litter could be useful when you got stuck miles away from a toilet.
Rod and I once packed for a weekend trip to attend Seth’s college graduation. I’d carefully packed my suitcase, except for the two dresses (one for a pre-graduation gathering for parents and graduates at the college and the other for graduation day) that I hung on a doorknob. Rod’s parents arrived, we loaded our luggage in the car, and left for the five-hour drive. After checking into our hotel, I started to dress for the first event, and realized that my hang up clothes were still at home.
I’d noticed a Goodwill Store near the hotel, so Rod’s mom and I rushed there. I told her my size and best colors, she found dresses, and I tried them on. Within half an hour together we’d found four great outfits that cost a total of $20. Maybe Jesus was onto something. Our daily bread is enough.
Rod and I are getting ready to go to Hawaii for ten days. I’m not going with just a walking stick. TSA requires ID and a boarding pass. I am going to pack just enough and leave the rest to trust.
Traveling (a bit) lighter. ~ Anne
Wayfinding 