What Baggage Will You Carry This Year?

Last Sunday in church I lugged a suitcase in to Celebration filled with heavy theological books. While I was talking with the children, I had them feel how heavy it was and then I opened it and pulled out the books that I had titled with things like “anger,” “guilt,” “hurt feelings,” and “the unwillingness to forgive.” The kids decided it was very heavy and they would rather not carry something like that around if they had a choice. I explained that every year we get to decide which baggage we carry with us into the New Year and which baggage we leave behind. The way to decide is to ask ourselves, “Is there something I still need to learn or get from carrying this baggage?” An example of baggage we could let go of is being angry with our brother for teasing us 5 years ago (and we don’t even remember the specifics). An example of baggage we might choose to continue to carry is sadness over moving away from a friend. We might choose to continue to carry that sadness if we think it will help us remember our friend. Each of the kids and adults were invited to write down on a sheet of paper the baggage they want to leave behind this year. Those who had written something then brought the paper forward and deposited it into the empty suitcase. We zipped it up, gave all the baggage inside to God in prayer and then continued our celebration. After the service, a four year old boy approached one of our staff members and told her about the baggage he was going to continue to carry and the baggage he was leaving behind. What an inspiration he is to me and to all of us. If we had begun this process when we were four, our loads would be much lighter by now! May you experience freedom in your spirit as you choose the baggage you will carry into this New Year.