Travel Light

Sometimes "stuff" gets in the way.

It can be material stuff - or baggage from our past, or things we hold onto that we like, activities that we like to do so much that they crowd out the important stuff... anything.  

You've probably heard something about what Jesus said about it being easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich person to get into the kingdom of God.  All my youth I had this picture of trying to thread poor old Mr. Camel through the eye of a darning needle.  But that's probably not what Jesus meant.

Jerusalem was a walled city and to protect it from marauders, the gates were closed at sunset.  Of course travelers were still on the roads, some in caravans and some to make a profit in the marketplace.  Of these, there were businessmen who brought their wares on camels.  So after the gate was closed for the night - if these businessmen arrived - they would not open the city gates for them in case they were hiding looters.  But there was a way to get inside: through the "Needle Gate."

The Needle Gate was barely the width of one camel and the height of one man.  Much easier to guard.  So, anyone coming through that gate with camels had to field-strip their camels, one at a time.  Take the items for sale off of each beast of burden right down to the bare animal.  Carry the wares through and set them aside against the wall, make the camel get on its knees and lead it through the Needle Gate on its knees to the other side.  Then the next one. And the next.  There was no way a pillager could get through such a complicated process without being detected.

So when Jesus said that it was easier for a camel to go through the needle's eye - well, that's what He meant.  

Travel light.  Not encumbered by stuff... whatever that stuff is.  Jesus could just as easily have said, if He were talking about today's society, that it would be easier to go through that very same Needle Gate with a camel than it would be for some folks to get into the kingdom and still hang onto their blackberries, or their hockey equipment, or their grocery carts, or their champagne bottles, or their dustrags.  In short, whatever the addiction is becomes the very obstacle to entrance into a relationship with the King.

Realizing we are powerless over those addictions is the first step in stripping them off and setting them aside, inside the gate of His care and protection, for scrutiny.  The humility required to come through that narrow, low gate on our knees is the very thing that is required.  And yes, we may put that baggage back on if we wish.  He'll help us unload it for good when we're ready, piece by piece, once we've learned that we can trust Him with our stuff the way we trusted Him to get in.

He gives us a new burden to carry after a while of learning to walk with Him ... a light one.  One that allows us to come alongside other people who bear heavy burdens just like the ones we once carried - baggage like guilt, shame, fear, hatred, resentment, rage. Because we used to wear these things, and we know the feeling of powerlessness and confusion they bring, we can be compassionate instead of judgmental.

We don't carry someone else's baggage. We just enjoy the journey - and show someone else our pack.  We can tell another traveler about the King as we listen to their heart's cry.  We show him or her the way to the gate.  We might even show what to do to get in. We can walk with that person as he or she learns to build relationship with Him, and learn to exchange the old baggage for His pack, designed and tailor-made by Him for the journey.  


And then THAT one can go looking for another heavily laden traveler.  
That's how it works.