Traveling Lightly
Dori Zerbe Cornelsen
Much of my energies this summer went toward moving from one house to another. It’s something I’ve done a fair bit of in my life, having been a missionary/pastor kid. Our challenge this time was moving into significantly smaller space than we’ve been used to while we undertake a building project. Suddenly our family of four has been very tangibly faced with having too much stuff.
I must admit that this came as a bit of a surprise to me. After all, we’ve tried to be careful with our purchasing habits. I wouldn’t be quite so smug as to suggest we live simply, but we do try to live mindfully in this consumer culture. Yet all of us in the household have managed to accumulate many things that we quite like and want to hold on to.
In an article called "Traveling Light,” Pastor Sharron R. Lucas of the United Methodist Church reflects on Jesus’ instructions to his disciples in Mark 6 when he sends them out in pairs to travel with the good news from village to village. Jesus’ packing list, as Lucas calls it, is not one that many of us would want to adhere to on a journey of undetermined time and length. Jesus "ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics.”
"Take nothing” sounds outrageous. This instruction of Jesus, though, may have freed up the twelve to make their mission possible. Possessions can literally weigh us down. Pondering this as I packed yet another box of books, I resolved to learn the discipline of lightening my bags.
First, in a culture that exerts powerful pressure to measure my worth by what I buy and own, I can separate my needs from my wants. My current favourite twist on an old saying is, "If the shoe fits, you don’t have to buy it.”
Second, rather than accumulating more, I can practice the discipline of letting go. If something new comes into the house as a purchase or gift, consideration should be given to replace something already in the household.
Third, I can practice gratitude as opposed to dissatisfaction. The old song may have had it right that we should "count your blessings, name them one by one,” in order to challenge the restlessness that comes from wanting more.
One of the tangible benefits created by these disciplines of travelling more lightly can include a capacity to become more generous with financial resources. A shift of energy and focus away from accumulation for self to community empowerment and commitment can liberate us from some entanglements that can make the journey of good news more difficult. This was perhaps the wisdom behind Jesus’ packing list for the twelve that I will continue to ponder as I eventually unpack.
Dori Zerbe Cornelsen is a stewardship consultant at the Winnipeg, Manitoba office of Mennonite Foundation of Canada (MFC). For stewardship education and estate and charitable gift planning, contact your nearest MFC office or visit Mennofoundation.ca.