What to write.
I'll tell a short story about saying goodbye to a good friend of mine. He left last Monday to attend a training; and will officially leave the States in a few days to work in Cambodia. He will be there for 5 months and has no plans of a return here since he is from India. He left last Monday with one suitcase, all of his other belongings were given away aside from one little bag that he asked his friend to hold onto.
The problem at the airport that day was that his suitcase weighed too much. It weighed nearly 78 pounds, or 76, I don't remember the exact number, but it was TOO much, the limit is 50. What was crazy was that minutes before his baggage was weighed at the airport, his friend had determined that the suitcase would be too heavy, so we popped the trunk of the car and watched as he tossed clothes into the trunk.
Determined to avoid the 100 dollar fine, we all went to a window in the airport and watched our friend toss more clothes and books. Hoping it would be enough, we returned to the baggage check area, only to find it was still over the limit. So we returned to the window, and this time he began to toss things with which he seemed a bit more attached, nice quality shirts and 2 pairs of shoes and a towel. Maybe this would be enough....
But it wasn't. We were directed away a third time, and back at that window, my friend stood over the bag, pondering what he could do without. Standing over him, one of his best friends and mentors said, with hand on hip, "brother, this is what it costs to serve the Lord, it costs you everything." I laughed and he chuckled, nodding his head half in agreement and putting his hands up a little in bewilderment. This time he tossed his only suit, last remaining towel, and some good cologne. There, that was enough. At 52 pounds the bag was about to be rejected a fourth time, when my friend said to the baggage authority, "please, this is all I have and I am going to Cambodia." She begrudgingly said ok and we all made a sigh of relief. In excitement, his friend tried to sneakily unzip the bag and throw the cologne back in. "No! No more! What is that!?" exclaimed the baggage check woman, "let me see it." she demanded. She grabbed the cologne, glared at it, and then opened the bag herself and zipped it in. Needless to say we all felt accomplished after that! At least now our friend could smell nice.
I tell this story because it truly touched my heart to see this friend leave so much behind to follow his call to serve God. It was such a strong reminder of the sacrifices that must be made. This friend of mine was not an American friend, who has everything stored up nicely in a home for when he returns - he isn't sure where he's going next - and so all of his belongings had to fit in that bag. He had to let go of many things in order to move forward. It was a powerful thing to witness.
This month I'm asking, what can I live without? I may not follow the same footsteps of my friend, but I do plan to follow God wherever he may lead after graduation. I can only hope to have the same amount of grace and willingness that my friend did when the time comes to step further into a life of service by letting go of whatever is required.
Luke 9:62 - No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.
Luke 9:62 - No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.
Music: May you find a light - The Brilliance
