In My Backpack Or At The Cross?

I watched a movie the other evening and I couldn't help but continue thinking about it for days afterwards. I kept meditating on one small part of the movie, for who knows what reason; and just couldn't let it go. Without going into all of the details and plot of the movie, I'll tell you where I kept getting stuck in my thoughts.

This guy was in his early 40's and he went around doing seminars. You know the type...the Tony Robinson type sales-pitch, motivational, goal setting and achievement type of seminars. His theme was called "What's in your backpack?" and he told the audience to close their eyes and imagine having a backpack on and "fill it with all your little trinkets and knick-knacks that they've collected over the years." He then proceeded to instruct them to "keep visualizing and add to the backpack all of their clothes, personal items, and then their furniture. Back pack is getting heavy eh?" Then he says: "Now add to this backpack ANYONE you have ever had an interaction or encounter with (a smile, a hello, a handshake etc.), now add acquaintances, co-workers. Add to that the people who really matter...the relationships that matter...friends, sisters, brothers, children, spouses/partners etc., Backpack is REALLY heavy now, eh?"

Well, I hate to tell you but you never get to hear the whole speech of his seminar...this movie only touches on little facets of his life. I bet though if they did show the whole seminar pitch, he would've had said that "These are the things that we carry around all day, every day and that they wear us down." I believe he also would have said: "Get rid of as many of these things as possible by emptying your backpack and not carrying around all of the baggage that comes from these items/relationships." Now this is just a guess as to what he MAY have said (if they showed the whole scenario) and I'm basing this on the fact that he was in his early-mid 40's, no marriage (ever), no kids (ever) and no monogamous relationship. He was a "fly by the seat of your pants kind-of guy" who went and did his job wherever he was told to go and he never really stayed at home or kept in contact with his family.

Why did this intrigue me??? (Get over the fact that I watched a movie and follow me on this one as to how things of this world get us to think of a Greater God.) I kept thinking about what would my backpack feel like? I kept thinking about all the volunteer work that I'm involved in. All the roles that my life has. All the interactions on a daily basis that I have. And, oh boy, all the "stuff" I've accumulated along the way. Wow....THIS IS HEAVY! I knew that the answer was definitely NOT what this movie would have portrayed but how would I ever empty/lighten my backpack?

One by one, I wanted to "unpack" my bag. Item by item, problem by problem, relationship by relationship I would have to "remove" these things. Then it hit me. I already had the answer and just needed to be refreshed that HE is the answer. My backpack is getting lighter these days because I have been reminded to take each "thing/problem/situation/decision" and pull it out and pray to God about what to do with it. This doesn't mean I have to "throw these things/people away." It just means to lay my burdens at the feet of the cross. He will pick them up and He will decide what I need to keep and what is no good for me. I need to continue to remember that He is God and not I. I can be a vessel/tool to listen to people and assist with their needs but ONLY HE can fulfill them. Only He can have His Will done.

I feel bad for those that watched that movie and don't know my beautiful Savior! If they could have their eyes opened to see that "ending relationships or throwing things away" is not the way to have their burdens lightened BUT to lay them at the feet of the cross...one by one...and begin a new relationship w/God (or rekindle an old one) is the BEST answer.

Where shall I put the things that wear me down? I can carry them in my heavy laden backpack OR I can place them at the foot of the Cross. I'm an everlasting work in progress who doesn't have all the answers but I do have One and it's Him. Thank you sweet Jesus for this reminder!