Overpacking

Photo by Alexander Schimmeck on Unsplash

I can admit it—I overpack. I tend to bring along way more than I need to. I can’t help it. Whether it’s a weeklong vacation or just a day trip, I always have these grand visions of accomplishing way more than is humanly possible in the allotted time. But what if there is a pool? What if there is a baseball field? What if we decide at the last minute to bushwhack four days into the jungle and I don’t have a proper machete? (This has never happened). And so, I usually end up squeezing a bunch of random stuff into every last nook of our vehicle. But when we break down on the side of the road and I can simply reach for my flare gun, I guarantee I’ll be the one laughing.

I wish I could say this tendency to overpack was limited to vacation travel. If I’m honest, this is a pretty common theme for me. I carry too much with me. I always have. I just don’t have the ability to shake things off like some people I know. It turns out things do not just “roll off me.” I guess this means I am, in fact, not rubber but glue.

My guess is there are a lot of people like me in this way. Not about vacation travel but in life. A lot of us overpack. We carry way more than we were intended to. I see it in the faces of people I walk by every day. Without a single exchange of words, it is obvious—they are carrying something. And it’s heavy. They are tired. And for many, it hurts. It’s all they can do to keep going.

Maybe it’s the weight of careless words spoken in a time past.

You are not good enough.

You are not talented enough.

I don’t like you.

Or the weight of remorse and shame.

You have done too many things wrong.

You have hurt too many people.

No one can accept you.

There is a burden many of us bear. We just can’t seem to set it down. Regardless of where we’re going, you can be certain it’s on the packing list.

That is what makes Jesus’ invitation so surprising. And necessary.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”¹

Bring your junk. Crawl if you have to. Just come.

Years ago, my family was at the airport after returning from a family vacation. After securing the bags from the carousel, one of my sons was quick to grab the largest bag I had placed by my side. He grabbed the handle and began to pull. Knowing he really just wanted to help, I proceeded to grab the remaining bags and we began our walk to the parking garage. He started out fine but soon began lagging further and further behind. I could tell the suitcase was beginning to get the best of him. Soon I had to stop and wait for him to catch up.

Why don’t you let me carry that for you?

To which he replied,

No. I can do it, dad.

After several more minutes like this, I eventually took the bag from his hand. My motivation was honestly just to speed things along. We were tired from a long day of travel. My son just wanted to help. He wanted to do it himself. And he wasn’t ready to admit the bag was too heavy.

But the bag was too heavy.

As he released the bag, he gave an audible sigh of relief and ran to catch up with the group.

I guess sometimes you can’t feel the burden you’ve been carrying until it’s gone.

Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

1. Matthew 11:28