Red Wing, Minnesota. On the Mississippi River, on famed Highway 61, and just south of where Robert Zimmerman rose to fame as Bob Dylan. A neat, old, river town, and one on my list of small towns to live in-if it didn't have winter. While spending the night there, it rained. We had thunder storms for four hours, and as we watched the parking lot flood, the sirens went on. TORNADO warning sirens, which can be scary. And were. For there is really no place to hide from one, just ask Dorothy. Amen,Toto? But after the rains stopped, and the warning expired-fortunately no tornados, a group of bikers rode in. Seeing my bike they stopped over, and we talked. They were from Milwaukee, and turned us on to some great roads in Wisconsin. But while visiting, one guy wondered how we packed so little for such a long trip. He even mentioned his girl friend brought nine pairs of shoes, for their weekend trip. Trying not to appear as vain in his packing attempts, he joked about it. She was on her own bike, and came over a few minutes later. We started to chide her about her show obsession, and asked her "where do you pack all those shoes?"
"Well inside his shoes, of course." Out of the mouth of babes...
We all carry baggage, and some of us too much. Theresa used to work for neurosurgeons, who when diagnosing back pain told the patient "come back after losing 20 pounds, if the pain is still there." And how many of us know people with bad knees, only made worse by extra weight. I can attest to both as I felt much better in both areas after losing 40 pounds two years ago. But we all carry extra baggage.
I know a woman who once walked close to God, but after a bad divorce is bitter, and joined a secular woman's group of divorcees, hoping to minister to them, and now is really bitter, and spreading that bitterness towards men to her daughters. Things that start small can grow bigger, out of control, and soon they control us. How many of us have possessions, that over the years possess us? Have you noticed the trend in newer homes for huge walk in closets, some bigger than the small rooms they consider a third or fourth bedroom? And these things can stand between us and God. When asked how to inherit the kingdom of God, Jesus advised the rich man to sell all he had and give it to the poor. But he let his things keep him from heaven.
Jesus advised His disciples to carry very little as they travelled, and that is good advice for us still. Theresa and I when travelling buy new shirts, but mail the old dirty ones back. We also collect refrigerator magnets, cheap and easy to carry, as remembrances of our trips. And as I watch the other guests in motels we stay at, carry cart loads of baggage, when I stand there with two bags from my hard cases, you just have to know something is wrong. I hope it's not me!
Today may be a great time to reevaluate what is important to us. And what things control us, rather than us controlling them. Jesus said very simply "His yoke is easy, and His burden is light." Tired of carrying all the pressures of life, give them to Him. Hanging on to things that once had meaning, but are of no value-dump them on His shoulders. Let Him relieve you, and you will find that the desires of your heart change when not overwhelmed with life.
A lesson I hope my shoe obsessed biker friends learn-and soon. By the way, did I mention that Red Wing is the home of Red Wing shoes? And their factory is there, along with this cool factory store? And I wondered, if she bought another pair of shoes where she would be able to carry them?
Then I remembered her travelling partner. Shoes come in pairs-don't they? May your partner in life help bear your burdens, and may that someone be Jesus Christ.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com