The Journey

Chatting with a friend who has just made a move, we talked about how hard change is, untangling ourselves from all the stuff we acquire over the years.

It made me think about the Pioneers, who packed their wagons with the necessities for a long and arduous trip. They often  tried to add a few "reminders", delicacies of a life left behind.... books, lace tablecloth, dishes etc etc.to their bulging wagon.  
I picture their husbands trying to be patient, as axes and tools, food stuffs and medicines all needed  space. I know that the woman may often have looked at those barrels and trunks and found security as the road became long, knowing she was carrying some of her previous life with her.   These things  held memories of loved ones left behind and a semblance of "dignity" as the path wound out ahead..

It never failed but somewhere along that trip, a mountain pass, a rushing river, a stuck wagon, accident etc would end up forcing the couple to heave their things overboard to make the load lighter.  How painful!   Often they would arrive at their new property with seemingly bare bones....often needing to start from scratch......BUT THEY MADE IT!!

Before long the business of making a new life would take over and even though there were times of "missing" their lost things, life was too full to take much time in mourning their losses.  Years later the things left behind would be totally forgotten, replaced by new memories and life lived forward.

I don't think it is too much different today.  When we take on the new life of being a Christian we tend to want to take a few  "old things" on our journey, to make it not so scary and more familiar.  But it is not long before the Father causes things to happen that we must lighten the load and simplify.  He knows that we can not be laden down with the old and still be able to receive the new. This happens over and over until we meet Him face to face.

Friend we will all agree that it is often hard to let go.  Things hold so much meaning and memory~ but we MUST TRUST GOD.   If He says simplify..do it.  It will be for your good.  He has more and more for you.  Remember He is the Creator  He's always doing something NEW~

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