2025, Christianity, life lessons, personal growth, Reflections on Life

Unpacking Life’s Baggage: A Journey of Faith

I’m trying to learn how to travel light

My goal was to have less luggage when I traveled to visit friends and family, and since I wasn’t flying and had no size limitations (and no TSA inspection, the bane of my traveling existence), I packed large luggage.

In my largest suitcase, I packed four days’ worth of clothes—and my entire garment bag—along with my toiletries. The suitcase was bigger than I needed, but having the spare room and fewer bags to lug around felt luxurious and wise.

I stuffed a single-serve coffee maker, multiple books, medications, power cords, and any last-minute additions into a large canvas bag.

(I also had my backpack, a pillow, and two coolers.)

Clearly, I do not travel light! (Do you?)

The big suitcase worked well when traveling to visit Pamela. I unloaded the car in one trip (thanks to Pamela’s mother who wheeled my big suitcase while I hefted the rest).

But when I left Pam’s—with all of the above plus extra bags from too many shopping adventures—I saw the flaws in this system.

The problem when traveling with large baggage

I could pack and unpack my car with fewer trips, but once at my destination, I had to unpack almost everything to access anything.

After several days at Pamela’s house, I would stay at my sister’s for only a day and a half. I only needed my toiletries, pajamas, and one change of clothes.

The bigger suitcase wasn’t better.

Next time, I told myself, I needed to pack for easy access to toiletries and the reduced wardrobe I’d need on the final leg of my vacation. Could I fit my toiletries, Waterpik, and clothing essentials in the carry-on backpack I used when flying with my laptop?

If so, maybe I could fit the rest of my clothes in my rolling gym bag—ample enough for a short trip.

But I hadn’t, so I unzipped my large Samsonite and flipped it open, doubling its large footprint on the bed. I removed my toiletry bag, the few clothes I would need, and my WaterPik.

(In other words, everything I might have packed in my carry-on if I’d planned better.)

I shoved everything I wouldn’t need for my time at Trish’s into the large suitcase and moved it out of the way.

The problem with hoisting large baggage in my soul journey

This dilemma with packing and unpacking seems to parallel my spiritual journey. Even there, I pack heavy. I tend to keep everything under wraps in a big package—layering one issue on another.

To handle one struggle, perhaps the root cause of the others, I’ve got to unpack the whole suitcase. Or so it seems.

I’m an internal processor. I’m not in a close-knit community of other believers with whom I do life and who know my struggles and how God is working in me. (I know. Sad.)

I do my best to grow in my faith anyway. I read, listen, study—and reflect. I see where I need to change. Sometimes it’s exhilarating. I am overjoyed that God is still working on me.

But too often, I feel the conviction but don’t take the steps to make the changes. (So Romans 7 of me, right?) So I look for another lesson, feel convicted to act, make some changes but not enough—and add layer upon layer to my soul’s suitcase.

For instance, this summer my niece and I studied the book Living Fearless by Jamie Winship. It was the most transformative book I’ve ever read—second only to the Bible and Hannah Hurnard’s Hinds Feet on High Places.

I binge-listened to podcast interviews with Jamie. I tried to act on what he said. But when I still struggled to walk with God moment by moment and someone suggested John Mark Comer’s Practicing the Way, I jumped ship.

Well, sort of. I still have one foot in Jamie’s boat but the other in John Mark’s. And it’s awfully hard to walk in the right direction when you’re balancing between two boats.

Part of my paralysis is that both teachers say the change happens in community, and I don’t have that. (I know. Sad.) So I reflect, try, and add layers to my soul’s baggage.

What if my life were an open book?

A year and a half ago, while completing minor renovations to our home, I refinished the kitchen cabinets (so they would look less ancient contrasted with the new counters we were installing).

To do so, I emptied the drawers and sprawled their contents across the counters and tables. I removed the cabinet doors, exposing everything previously shielded by them.

Boxes of cereal; a menagerie of bowls, bottles, and containers; and the mishmash of detergents, cleaning supplies, and empty jars seemed a full display of chaos.

The scene motivated me to get the refinishing done fast. But what made me twitchy made Steve ecstatic. My husband loved the change! He preferred having everything in sight and reach. He was overjoyed at the convenience!

How to pack for life—and life’s journey

That’s the kind of organization I need for these trips—and for my soul. My emotional and psychological luggage in sight and in reach—easy to hand over all the ingredients and tools for my day, my life to the Lord.

And stop carrying the load as if it were mine alone to bear.

I’ve been trying to hear God speak to me throughout my day—not just during my “quality time” with him (often interrupted by my husband). What does God want me to know? What does God want me to do?

How can I practice hearing from Him all day long?

When I feel I can’t, I worry it’s me. Maybe I have too much baggage in my soul, blocking me from Him?

But the truth is, He sees it all—through to me. And He delights in what He sees. Everything—the pots and pans, the bottles of prune juice, the loose screws and clutter in the junk drawer, or whatever the equivalent is for my soul.

He sees everything. Heavy baggage doesn’t obstruct Him from seeing into the depth of my soul. He sees it all—and He loves me anyway.

And you.

He invites us to come to Him—me, the heavy-laden one, and you, whatever load you’re carrying—and enjoy rest with Him.

Would you pray with me?

Father, it’s yours! Remove the doors, empty the drawers, and refinish me from the inside out. Help me open myself to you like a huge Samsonite suitcase unzipped and revealing all.

Be my TSA agent—inspecting my baggage. Remove anything that doesn’t fly with you. Wherever I travel, help me hold my belongings—even the flaws that weigh so heavily—with a light grip and help me understand, more so, it’s all in your hand. Not just my baggage but me.

Thank you, Father. In your Son’s name, I pray, Amen.

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Sara

I have a desire to write something that will change the world. This blog is one little step out of my currently overfilled life of working, parenting, being a wife, housekeeper, laundress, hostess, cheerleader, beader, reader, and leader... When I write, I feel a bit more sane, even if said writing exposes my insanity. Go figure.

9 thoughts on “Unpacking Life’s Baggage: A Journey of Faith”

  1. I have never really thought about luggage we have in the spiritual sense. And yet we all have it. We can only hope that through awareness and with the help of the universe (and/or God) the can help us clear it so that our conscience remains clear and love strong. Sara, just so you know, I don’t see any clutter only a beautiful and bright light helping the world be a better place through your writing and you being you 💕

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    1. Awww! You are too sweet, Sothy! I am thankful for your friendship on our life journeys, so happy our paths crossed — was it December of 2020? You are bright and beautiful, my friend! Keep writing. 🥰

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  2. I struggle with this alot. Actually it’s been a recent struggle. I’ve learned that even though I would love to handle it on my own I simply can’t you know? I have to rely on Him and the people he has brought into my life. Perhaps that’s why He gives us our struggles, so we will not only be closer to the people He’s brought into our lives but also closer to Him. Weakness and baggage is meant to be shared not stored away : )

    Also to answer your question, no I don’t pack light 😅. I pack lots of clothes plus some dresses and socks. Lots. of. Socks. I also pack 2-4 books, 2 journals (Well one journal and one notebook), my pencil case plus an eraser (I make lots of mistakes which I blame my thoughts but thats a different story 🥲) 3 plushies, a blanket, my pillow, my Nintendo Switch plus 2-4 games and all of my charging cords. I like to think I’m just being prepared at least- thats what helps me sleep at night 😅.

    Keep on smiling girl, you got this : )

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    1. Ah!! Thanks, Lady! I’m glad I’m not alone in this struggle, and I’m sorry for your struggle — except it does make us look to our Father for help, right? I find it funny — not just your list of things you include, but thanks for all of it! — but what’s funny is all my attempts to be independent. Packing everything so I wouldn’t have to borrow anything. Packing in big cases so I could carry the luggage myself. And yet the whole post screams 😱 I need help. God’s help and a community.

      Thanks for helping me see that and for taking the time to write in such detail — I needed you. Thanks! (And I love socks, too.) 😊

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      1. Yeah, guilty as charged when it comes to being independent 😅. Something that I always try to remember (especially on my more stubborn / hard-headed days) is something called a production pipeline.

        A production pipeline is a term that is more commonly used in movie / animation / video game and other media settings, but is used outside of these settings for example, fundraisers or even family get togethers (but I’ll use animation for my point). There are 3 production phases (as I call them), pre-production / production / post-production.

        The pre-production phase is where the concept artist are. Each concept artist handles a different aspect. One artist focuses on the design of characters, another focuses on how the world will look, another creates the story of the world, etc.

        After all of the characters, landscapes, story, etc. is done the production phase can start working on making the concepts come to life. Much like the pre-production phase each person is tasked with creating an aspect of the world. One person focuses on the 3D modeling of characters, while another person 3D models the landscape, etc.

        Finally, the post-production phase can wrap things up. This includes sound design (which should be production but that’s a different can of coffee 😅), distribution of promotional work, both art and video, etc.

        Non of these phases can function by themselves, they need (or rely) the other phases. If part of the pipeline is clogged (due to art block / burn out / computer problems / etc.) the pipeline stops and thus halting the production of the animation or whatever media.

        Being the stubborn / hard-headed people we are, we don’t ask for help because we want to purport strength and control over our field (or in the broader picture our lives). But even if you are struggling that character design or coming up with the world’s lore, its okay to ask for help you know? Having a weak moment isn’t as bad as we think because in our weakest moments we find strength, to ask those around us for help and help shoulder our weakness / baggage (as weakness can be a for of baggage but only because we wish we had a certain strength(s) / skill set(s). But as they say strength in number right?

        God knows that we do better with people, that’s just a fact. whether these people are family / friends / community / etc. Perhaps that’s why we have them a sign from God to show us how much he cares about and loves us and that we arn’t meant to be one-man-bands.

        To sum everything up relying on people and God isn’t a form a weakness but an act of true strength. Admitting weakness is a type of strength and not everyone realizes that. If you do realize that then healing can begin and healing takes alot of strength, for it is painful / dirty and messy but is required for us to move on and be the best version of ourselves.

        Also, you’re welcome kjsik – I have a tendency to write alot but mostly because I have alot to say 😅. I also find writing free(ish) therapy instead of having to talk to a therapist but that’s a can of coffee ksijk –

        And yes socks are the best! As much as I like my dork ankle socks (based on series I enjoy) I love my knee high socks with funky patterns on them (sometimes I even wear them mixed matched 😅).

        Also I never intended to write a novel on your blog post, I just rant kiskjik 😅

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      2. Hi, Lady! I apologize for the delay in responding. It’s been a crisis-filled week so far where I’ve both needed and been needed. Prayers welcome! Thank you for your novel and the reminder that we need people and God — and we are weak! All of this is purposeful because we try to go it alone. Anyway! I don’t have time to write a novel in response, but I wanted to pop into the chat and say thank you! (And I have no idea what “kjsik” and the various renditions mean! Help?) Have a blessed day, my friend!

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      3. Hey, no worries. Life has a way of being chaotic and messy. Just remember to take care of yourself and hydrate (which I know you know but everyone needs to be remind of the small things every now and then : )

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