WHAT’S IN YOUR BACKPACK?

A few years ago our scout troop from church planned a high adventure hike down to Havasupai in the Grand Canyon. In general the hike is pretty tough, especially with a full pack.  These scouts were older and more experienced in the outdoors.  One very athletic young man about 16 years old was really struggling. When they reached the campsite the adult leaders realized that this scout’s pack was way too heavy.  When they looked inside the reason for his exertion became evident.  He had brought and carried large cans of food, but what’s more he had also carried a full size Coleman camp stove and the fuel to cook the food. He had carried this burden for 10 strenuous miles. Still to this day I chuckle about this and feel sorry for this young man’s experience.  He had not been taught the principles of ultra-light backpacking and how enjoyable backpacking can be when your load is light.

Now the purpose of this post is not to extol the virtues of ultra-light back packing but to extol the virtues of ultra-light living and how life can be filled with hope and joy when we don’t carry burdens around unnecessarily. We all live with regrets. We regret things we have done or said or we regret leaving things unsaid or undone. We hold grudges, prejudices, and biases. We want what we don’t have, worry over what we do have, and covet what others have.  At times we are jealous, suspicious, and cynical.  There are times when we refuse to forgive, we judge harshly, and we are down right cranky.  Sometimes we are just doing things we know are wrong, things that don’t agree with the values we hold dear. These attitudes and behaviors are a few of the things that weigh us down in life, that we carry every day, every minute, every step.  This is exhausting and sucks hope right out of us!

If we are ever to hope for a better day we have to unload our backpacks, and lighten up.  Life is too short to carry unnecessary baggage.  It drags us down. How do we jettison this excess load?

First we have to focus on what we have not what we don’t have. I am reminded of a time when I was traveling with my daughter on a two-week trip to Spain and Italy.  Our final stop was Rome – the eternal city. I was exhausted, sleep deprived, and homesick.  I woke up on one of our last days in a foul mood until I realized what an idiot I was being – I said to myself – I am in Rome, a city that I love, with my oldest daughter who is so good and kind – why am I so unhappy? At about this time the words of a song popped into my head:

“When upon life's billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings; name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings; ev'ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by…”

As I did what the song suggested, I realized that I was very blessed and privileged to be where I was, joy poured into my heart and lifted my spirit and I was happy the rest of the trip.  As we focus on what we do have rather than on what we don’t have we will realize that there IS a light at the end of the tunnel.

Count your blessings. When our children were younger, Ruth and I would have them make a list of 100 things they were thankful for prior to giving us their Christmas wish list.  If you are struggling with your load of care take time to list at least 100 blessings you are thankful for and you will realize how blessed you are. Dwell on this list not the wish list.

Look to those values that are most dear to you, are you living up to the standards you’ve set for yourself?  If not, resolve today to change, set 1 SMART goal to improve one step at a time. (See post from 3 January 2015), Become the person you’ve always wanted to be.

Look to your relationships.  Decide today to forgive someone for what they have done to you.  Not forgiving another person is perhaps one of the heaviest burdens we carry, and one that cankers our souls like rust corrodes steel over time. Look for the best in others, and you just might find it; when you do give praise, this practice will lift others and your spirits.

Don’t judge others harshly; give them the benefit of the doubt and more.  I once heard a story of man on a train with his several children. He seemed to be in a stupor. His kids were unruly and running around the car wildly disturbing commuters. After observing this for several minutes one passenger finally couldn’t take it any longer and said something like this, “Sir, are you going to do something about your children?” The man’s reply as he awakened from his daze? “Oh, I’m so sorry; you see, we have just come from the hospital where their mother died and I have no idea what I’m going to do.” A wise man once taught;  “when you meet someone for the first time, treat them as if they are in serious trouble, and you will be right more than half the time.” Be kind!

These suggestions are not exhaustive and I am sure with a little thought you can think of other things you can do or stop doing that will help lighten your backpack.  Your list of unnecessary baggage will be different from mine – the point is, lighten your load.  As you do so you will find that your step will be lighter, your endurance greater, and your hope will be brighter.