Dear Friends,

In our gospel story today, Jesus instructs the disciples to “take nothing for the journey, but a walking stick”, he doesn’t even want them to bring clothing or snacks! Having packed for more than a few journeys in my life, I would definitely

have been challenged to follow this command. I’m intrigued that the ‘walking stick’ is permitted, and in reflecting am imagining the many uses of such a stick. In today’s world, it’s not uncommon (at least here in the back roads of Framingham) to see walkers carrying a stick.  Some are mere tree limbs, some are quite ornate, even hand-carved wonders. Some appear to use their stick for balance, other seem almost to be twirling them as they prance along.  My strong suspicion is that they are primarily as reassurance againstany threatening animals the walker might encounter along the way.So, if as is likely, walking sticks served the same purpose then as now, it seems that Jesus is encouraging support, but not baggage. I think sometimes it’s difficult for us to distinguish between the two. At least I know when I’m packing for a journey, I seem to “need” many more things than one can easily bring along. I tend to think of them as “support”…. Certain clothes brighten my mood, surely an extra sweater or two is a “necessity”, and then there are the shoes…. certain pairs I can walk more easily in…certain ones look better with a particular outfit…and on and on. When we traveled to London several years ago for a brief weekend meeting with the Women’s Ordination Worldwide, we regaled the taxi drivers with our attempts to fit our ‘baggage’ into the tiny taxicabs. Basically, I/we (all I think) tend to carry too much. However, the physical luggage is but a metaphor here for the interior baggage that weighs us down. Jesus’ invitation is to trust…that we don’t need to be ‘outfitted’ perfectly ….neither within nor without…in order to follow our call. In fact, we can weigh ourselves down and abort the journey by trying to be perfectly ‘poised’ before showing up and setting forth .  Joyce Rupp’s poem “Take Nothing for the Journey” illustrates this dynamic beautifully: 

Take Nothing for the Journey

Heal and Proclaim …

Were the twelve afraid?

Did they wonder if they could do those things?

Compared to the quality of your ministry,

Did they feel inadequate and unworthy?

What persuaded them to go? Your words?

Your friendship? Their enthusiasm?

Your deep belief that they could do it?

And you said:

“Take nothing for the journey”.

What did you mean?

Trust or more than trust?

Did you perhaps imply that we can’t wait

Until we have all the possible things we need?

That we can’t postpone “doing”

Until we are positive of our talents?

That we can’t hold off our commitment

Until we are absolutely sure

We won’t make a mistake?

I think of all the excuses and reasons

We can give for not serving and giving:

No time, no talent, no knowledge,

No energy, no assured results.

You say, “Take nothing.

Don’t worry about your inadequacies.

I will provide for you.

Go! Just Go! Go with my power.

Risk the road, risk the work.

Go! I will be with you.

What else do you need?”

~~ Joyce Rupp

We all have ‘baggage’….the challenge is to deepen our awareness of what each of us ‘carries’ that gets in the way of our serving more fully, more whole heartedly, more joyfully, and to find creative and life-giving ways to let go and grow. We invite you to journey with us in prayer at The Spirit of Life Community. Through our time of prayer and sharing together, we work together to grow in our self-understanding and in our relationships with God and with God’s people. We celebrate the gift of our faith and the responsibility that is ours as followers of Jesus Christ.  It is our prayer that what we as a community experience in our praying together will overflow into the rest of our lives, making us more fully human and more ‘whole’….holy!  We invite you to join us in this endeavor and journey with us as we seek to grow in our love of God and to grow in our capacity to be living expressions of God’s loving peace and justice in our world.

Wishing you a light-hearted journey in these lovely summer days

Blessings,

Jean & Ron