Carrying Baggage

We are getting ready to go on a trip – Dave’s quartet has a concert down in Florida. So, tonight we will be packing our suitcase with the few things we will need over the next couple of days. And since we are driving, there is a reasonable certainty that our luggage will arrive when and where we do.

If you are flying, however, that is not always the case. One year we flew home to Canada for Christmas. I was not able to take as much time off work as Dave was, so he flew up a few days before me. I was a little nervous about travelling by myself – and I was particularly nervous about going through customs – because this time we flew all the way to Dave’s hometown. I had to change planes in Toronto – and take everything through customs myself. But I did it with no problems. I handled everything fine. Only when I landed in Saint John – my luggage wasn’t with me. A labor dispute with workers in Toronto triggered a “sick out.” And there were no workers to transfer my luggage to the plane that was taking me to my final destination. In fact, nobody on that plane had luggage – it was all sitting on the tarmac, in the rain, back in Toronto. I was fortunate – I was missing some clothes, and a few Christmas presents, but nothing of life or death importance. There were several people who had medications in their baggage. They were in dire straits. The airlines worked hard to get the luggage there for everyone, although it did take two days to arrive. And a few things in the suitcase were ruined, because the dye in the leather had bled onto some of my clothes and never came out. All in all though, nothing too terrible.

When we travel – having our luggage with us is important. But in other matters in our lives, having baggage is not necessarily a good thing. Last night, I had to face some of my eating baggage. Dave is working right now delivering pizzas. He worked from 5:00 until around 11:00 last night. He seems to be enjoying the job, and we need the money. I’m happy that he is doing something. A good friend came over for a while – she will be taking care of our animals while we are away – and she needed to get the garage door opener, etc. We had a good visit – but when she left, I was alone. I don’t mind being alone – I like the quiet, and I like the peace. But historically, that is when I would binge – stuffing anything and everything into my mouth. Last night, I definitely had the urge to do just that. I wasn’t hungry. I ate my supper, so I didn’t NEED to eat. I just WANTED to eat. I was BORED.

Over the past year, I have worked really hard to learn to eat when I need to eat – and to walk away when I want to eat for any other reason. I walked away last night – but there were a few moments when I wasn’t certain I was going to. It was a little unnerving to feel that desire so strongly. The best thing about this kind of baggage, is that I have the choice whether or not to continue carrying it. Dave will be working many nights in the future – and I am sure I will face this issue over and over again. But having successfully faced it once – I have every assurance I will be able to face it again. I know that the prayers of friends and family will help!

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30, NIV)