I do quite a bit of airline traveling in my life, and over the years I’ve learned a few tips and tricks to make it easier. One key factor is to pack light, taking only what you need. But no matter how much we pare down, we still travel with some luggage, and we have to cart that around wherever we go.
Early on in my “traveling career” I learned to take a carry-on suitcase that would fit in the overhead compartment of the plane. Then I would put a second smaller bag (like a backpack or large purse) on top of the extension pole that you use to pull it around. With my luggage stacked, I would trudge through airports and security lines, switching hands to try to ease the strain on my arms and neck, as I rushed from gate to gate. That was before I knew any better.
One Christmas I was given a brand new carry-on suitcase as a gift. This one had a strap attached near the handle at the top of the bag where the extension pole comes out. This strap could be unclasped and used to attach a secondary bag to it. The second bag would rest down on the main suitcase, and not be against the extension pole at all. So on one of my trips using this new bag, I tried hooking my smaller bag onto the strap. I was amazed at the difference of how much lighter the two bags felt that way — how much easier it was to wheel it behind me in the airports.
I had not known that the higher the weight is, the heavier it feels and the more strain it puts on your arms. I started noticing that pilots and flight attendants all used this “stacking low” method, keeping the weight of all their bags low to the ground. If you look at experienced travelers, they could have several bags attached to each other, but they are all low to the ground instead of stacked vertically on top of each other.
This brings me to the gospel of Matthew 11:28-30, which we had at Mass the other day. Jesus says in it, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” I started thinking about travel and luggage and burdens. I compared how heavy my load used to be when I stacked my bags vertically, compared to how much lighter it feels when I piggyback my bags.
We all have burdens and responsibilities in life, things we are called to carry. But sometimes we carry them in ways we shouldn’t — like those top-heavy bags. We add on worry, anxiety, fear. Maybe we feel guilty or responsible for things that are beyond our control. Perhaps we say yes to too many requests. And the weight starts to feel crushing and unbearable. That’s when we need to turn to Jesus’ words in this gospel:
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
When we go to Jesus, it’s not necessarily that he will get rid of our responsibilities or burdens, but he can rearrange them, put them in perspective, and help us carry them differently. Suddenly, our outlook changes, the strain eases, and we’re ready to head out the door again.
Give it a try. Go to him in the Blessed Sacrament. Set all your burdens and concerns at his feet. Let him do what he does best. And when you leave, the load will indeed be lighter, because that is his promise.
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