What's in Your Baggage?

What's in your old baggage?

We all have baggage. I mean we all have emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual baggage. It's just a fact of life, of being human.

But what's in your baggage, especially your old baggage, baggage you keep pulling out of your closet to dwell upon?

Imagine you are standing in the luggage claim area of an airport. The luggage going around and around comes in all shapes, sizes, colors, and styles.

Now, imagine you can see the emotional, mental, and spiritual baggage on the backs of those waiting for their travel luggage. Notice how the baggage on their back affects the way thewy stand, sit, and walk. One woman is so bent over she can barely look straight ahead. Another person stands with a cane, barely able to stand straight. Then there's the fellow next to you. He's standing tall with barely any baggage on his back.

Now, ask yourself this question. What would others say about you? What kind of baggage would they see on your back? WHAT'S IN YOUR BAGGAGE?

Handling Your Baggage

What's the  emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual baggage weighing you down, keeping you from having the joy-filled life you want to have? Pick your poison.

Guilt? Shame? Regret? Unforgiveness? Resentment? Past hurts? Fears? Busyness?

Is your life a quest for perfection? Do you suffer from a fear of failure?

Here are a few pointers about handling your baggage, whatever it might be.

First, admit you have baggage. It's only human of you, isn't it?

Second, recognize each piece of baggage.

Third, define each piece of baggage. Even give it a name.

Fourth, take your baggage and lay it at the feet of Jesus, at the foot of the Cross. Think of Jesus Christ as the ultimate baggage handler. His services are free, already paid for on the Cross.

In Gods' Words

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 34:18-19)

"So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach." (Acts 27:40)

In the Words of Others

“The longer a life, the challenge is not the distance between destinations, but the difficulty of travelling light. My soul’s a portmanteau packed full, one half filled with what was, the other with what is, what should be.” Jamie A Hughes

“Release the baggage or the Universe will do it for you. It won't be gentle if it has to do it.” Robin S. Baker

“Don’t dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what to do next. Spend your energies on moving forward toward finding the answer.” Denis Waitley