The other night, I was out for dinner with some lovely ladies from a Life Group. We were talking about travelling and how difficult it is to travel light.

One of the ladies said, “I had to have friends, who were joining us on our trip, bring 4 pairs of my shoes and that was in addition to the 6 pairs I was bringing myself!” Truly a woman after my own heart!

Our discussion reminded me of a significant life lesson I learned several years ago.

In the midst of a very busy time in our lives - Brian and I went on a cruise with some friends. It was at a time of heightened security, so much so that we couldn’t even bring a carry-on on to the plane. No gels, no fluids, no exceptions, not even for my tiny tube of lip gloss, which I considered essential. The security guard begged to disagree. Everything needed to be checked in.

We arrived at our destination in good time to get to the pier and jump on the cruise ship. Our vacation was within reach. However, when we arrived at the airport in Florida we were met with yet another security screening. It’s seemed a bit excessive but “whatever”, we were almost there… I could almost feel the warm ocean breeze! After being cleared by security we were directed to the baggage carousal. The four of us stood with great anticipation, each awaiting our bag. We were so close we could taste it.

“There’s mine”, my friend said as she pulled her bag off the moving track.

One, two, three bags retrieved.

“Oh, noooo”, I thought to myself.

You know that dreaded feeling that settles in your stomach? That unsettling feeling that screams “they’ve lost my luggage!”. When the moving serpentine track came to a dead stop and the throng of people dwindle to just the four of us, it became clear that the airline had lost my baggage. All of it. Even my lipgloss!

All I had, as I I left the airport, was what I was wearing. Let me assure you it was not Captain’s Table worthy! I wasn’t smart enough to pack my lipgloss or anything else for that matter in Brian’s bag.

My baggage didn’t find me until day four of our cruise, and you know what? I managed. In fact, I shocked myself and my friends on how well I managed for four days, on a cruise without my baggage. It was actually liberating to discover how little one really needs.

Now when I pack, I only pack the essentials. I am proud to say that today I can travel light, and leave the baggage at home.

Losing my baggage was actually very freeing!

Here’s the thing, we all carry a lot of baggage - literally and figuratively - like emotional baggage, family baggage, addiction baggage, and the list goes on. Jesus says….“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free…” Jesus came to set us free from our baggage.

We don’t have to go through life tied to the baggage we don’t need. We can get rid of it and live the free life that Christ came and died for us to live.

There is such freedom in travelling through life unencumbered with baggage. As we begin 2019… consider what baggage you want to shed.