Simon Tugwell in his book Prayer tells an important story about "letting go." He says this: "There is the story told of two monks in Japan, 'traveling together down a muddy road. A heavy rain was still falling. Coming around a bend, they met a lovely girl in a silk kimono and sash, unable to cross the intersection. "come on, girl," said Tanzan at once. Lifting her in his arms he carried her over the mud. Ekido did not speak again until that night when they reached a lodging temple. Then he could no longer restrain himself. "We monks don't go near females," he told Tanzan, "especially not young and lovely ones. It is dangerous. Why did you do that?" "I left the girl there," said Tanzan "Are you still carrying her?"
Jesus encouraged us to "travel light" through life. In Matthew 6: 25-34 he encourages us not to carry the baggage of worry around with us. when he sent the disciples on their missionary journey (Luke 9) he instructed them to carry very little with them. They needed to trust that God, along the way, would sustain them. He reminds us in Matthew that when we are weak and burdened by life (too much baggage to carry) that we can come to him and get rest.
We should do as he instructs. Leave the baggage, come to him, get rested up. The question is----why don't we?
