Holding onto what's not yours...

I think I just had the greatest conversation with a student; one that is caring and concerned not only about the people around her, but the representation that she and the others have in the world about Christ. She started the conversation out by asking how to explain to someone that was once hurt, that people aren't really like that. And it got me to thinking...


I know that in a world that strives on hurt and pain, and if you don't agree look at the world's television shows - they are full of it and only teach our younger generation to come that's all they have to live for, we tend to carry things that we shouldn't carry. It easy to pick up a hurt here and some bitterness there, or a bit of angry over yonder, but those are things I believe that we were never intended to carry; things such as hurts, pains, bitterness, lonliness, depression, anxiety, insecurities, ... oh, man, the list could keep going. But we aren't built to carry those things in life - and we do anyways. We've never been properly taught, or if we have - we've ignored the advice and wisdom around us, and still hold onto it.


Those things were never ours to carry. They were never ours to bare, or even share with others. In Matthew 11, Jesus states to those around him, "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." The things of this world is a burden that is much heavier than the burden Jesus gives us. It doesn't wear you out or get you to hold onto the negative things in life that eventually tear you down. They are easy, they are enjoyable, they are comforting and they bring peace and hope to any situation. Jesus carryed that burden for us down an old dusty road, with a huge wooden, splintered cross on his back.

I used the example to this student, that if someone was carrying around hurt it was like carrying a dead body on their back for the rest of their lives, and eventually the dead decaying body will start to take over the living body - you - and spread the desease of death. I sure don't want that, and I don't think you do either. I believe that we each strive so hard in life to make sure we don't end up carrying a dead weight or burden, and we miss it. We end up carrying it. But there are some of us that start noticing others dead weight, before we will even noticed our own. That's called "Seeing the speck in your neighbor's eye, before you noticed the freaking log in your own" (Paraphased Jamie Style) - Get over yourself. No one is perfect! That's why He carryed that cross! That's why there's a huge thing called FORGIVENESS, given to us. That's why he told us not to take on other's burdens but to carry his yoke... because he knew, but our human nature we would find fault in others, before we came to reality with ourselves.

So my question is not really just for you, but for all of us: what are you holding onto that Jesus didn't intend for you to carry? What log is sticking out of your eye? and why haven't you noticed it before you noticed someone else's? What hurt or bitterness have you been keeping deep down in the depths of your soul and spirit, and not releasing forgiveness so the other person may suceed in their God chosen lives? (oh, man! That's a whole new blog!)

I challenge you today to find one situation in your life that needs attention. That situtation you just thought about that's like a dead weight on your back, you think about it all the time, and you've just now realized its holding you back, but also holding them back. Forgiveness is the key. That's what made it possible for us not to have to carry a burden our human bodies and minds weren't designed to carry. Its liberating. It's worth it. It's about seeing restoration and hope built up... renew your relationships - through off the dead weight.