Traveling Light

 


Summertime is often the busiest season for holidays and travel, thanks to school breaks, pleasant weather, and long vacations. Families and individuals pack their bags with excitement, heading out in search of fun and adventure.

For me, summer trips come with mixed feelings. On one hand, I look forward to a much-needed break. On the other hand, I dread the chaos of crowded airports, the long queues, endless security checks, and the fear of missing connecting flights or losing luggage. I would skip that part of any trip if I could.

On one such trip, I arrived early, as usual, to avoid the rush. While standing in line, I observed other travelers and found myself guessing their stories. One family of seven (I'll call them the Speeds) caught my attention. They rushed in, clearly late for their flight, pushing a trolley overloaded with suitcases. Each parent and child had two bags, plus carry-ons and handbags.

The parents looked stressed as airline staff began weighing their luggage, setting aside those that were overweight. Mr. Speed hurried off to pay for the excess while the children, blissfully unaware of the tension, chattered excitedly about the upcoming flight.

As I watched them dash from check-in to immigration and boarding, I thought about how we often go through life in the same way, rushing from one season to another, burdened by emotional, mental, and spiritual baggage.

Hebrews 12:1 reminds us:

“Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

This verse doesn’t only refer to sin. It also speaks to unnecessary weights that slow down our growth and progress in life:

  • Emotional: bitterness, unforgiveness, grief, fear, anxiety
  • Mental: low self-esteem, limiting beliefs, envy, overthinking
  • Relational: toxic connections, peer pressure, unhealthy attachments
  • Lifestyle: materialism, vanity, addictions, overcommitment, success or failure

Some of these are imposed on us by life or society; others we carry by choice—consciously or not. Like summer travel, they can be so overwhelming and eventually lead to physical or mental breakdown.

Thankfully, just as some travelers learn to pack smarter and travel lighter, we too can make intentional choices to release what no longer serves us on life’s journey. We can start by identifying the weights we are carrying, whether emotional, mental, relational, or lifestyle-related, and surrendering them to God in prayer. Letting go may involve forgiving others, renewing our minds with God’s Word, setting healthy boundaries, isolating, simplifying our commitments, or seeking wise counsel. These practical steps help us shed what slows us down, so we can move forward in life with clarity, peace, and purpose.

To truly enjoy life and arrive alive at our God-ordained destination, we must learn to travel light. As you go out this week, check your “baggage” for excess weight and let go of what God never intended for you to carry. Don’t let that excess weight steal the beauty of your journey. Make room for joy, make room for peace, and all the things that make YOU happy and whole.

Travel light. Live free. Finish strong.


~XOXO

 



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