The Bags On Our Backs

Who is this sweeping in from the desert, leaning on her lover?

‭‭Song of Songs‬ ‭8:5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

http://bible.com/116/sng.8.5.nlt

Many of us start our faith journey with many supplies. Bags and bags filled with things we think we will need. Like the person who goes on vacation and doesn't know what to bring so they cleverly bring a little bit of everything. They pack not just what they know they will use, but also what they think they will use - things listed under the 'just in case' category. Though it hasn't rained at their vacation destination in months, they still bring their umbrella 'just in case'.

So, we start out on the path, with God by our side and our bags strapped to our backs. We feel secure with all the provision we brought for ourselves. We are ready to go. Ready to give. Ready to do what He's called us to do. 

But it's not far into the trip that we realize that our supplies aren't going to be able to sustain us for the duration. Our provision is quickly being used up and eaten up. But we stay determined and keep walking. We keep moving forward, with God by our side and our bags strapped to our backs.

But awhile down the road a storm comes in. We grab our umbrellas from our bags, but they get caught on something and rip. We pop them open only to discover the newly formed holes. "That's OK," we say to ourselves, "We'll manage." But the winds pick up and suddenly flip our umbrellas inside out. We're left with nothing but a stick. We sigh, but stay determined. We keep moving forward (slower now from the fatigue), with God by our side and our bags strapped to our backs.

And then the unexpected happens. The bags we thought were so strong and we could fully trust in, begin to fray. We reach for the tape, but somehow it got all wet from the storm. Then suddenly we hear it. That dreaded sound. The sound of tearing. We look over our shoulders to discover that our bags have betray us as we watch all our supplies tumble to the ground and then roll off the precipice we are standing near! We don't know, in that moment, whether to catch the falling items or grab for the tearing bags. Pure panic sets in as we realize that all our security is being stripped away from us!

 "God help!" we cry out. 

We look over to find Him still there, still by our side. But we are bewildered by His actions - or lack thereof. Rather than grabbing for our bags and all our securities, He lets them roll out and away from us!

"God, why are you not helping me?" we cry out again. "Can't you see that everything is falling apart?" 

We are now on the ground and scrambling to salvage all we can to keep from losing everything. In our frenzy, we look up.

And there He is. His face is beaming. His Hand is extended. His heart is radiating overwhelming love and compassion. 

The sight of it catches us off guard. We expected Him to be just as frazzled as we are.

"Finally." He says with a gentle, soothing voice. 

"Huh?" We think we heard Him wrong.

"I've been fighting for those bags to let go of you." He continues.

We think He has misunderstood and we say, "Lord, those things were the only things keeping me alive on this path! And now look! They are all gone! I have nothing to lean on!"

He slowly kneels down and meets us face to Face. "Then lean on Me." He whispers.

We stand up slowly, keeping our eyes fixed on His. We are completely mesmerized in the moment. We let go of whatever supplies we are still grasping, suddenly realizing how unreliable they had been for us anyway. We tuck our arms around His and slowly begin to lean into His side. 

And so we begin again. But this time we lean as we move, never missing the bags we left behind.