Last Sunday we began a series that has already touched some hearts.  More people commented on my message, "Travel Light", than on any sermon in the past months.  And it wasn't about the stuff to carry out in case of an evacuation, but the baggage we carry around in life.  One mother said, "How did you know that's just what I needed to hear?"  Another man Emailed me, "Was that message written for people like me, the chemically dependent?"  It looks like we're all carrying around a lot of excess baggage with us, whether young or old.  Travelling light means trusting God with the burdens we were never intended to bear.

          God's Word for today is simple:  "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."  What a simple formula for contentment!  "In everything give thanks..."  Give thanks IN all things, not FOR all things.  Whether in good times or bad, give thanks to God.  It helps us all travel a little lighter.

          This past week I visited a man recovering from what appears to be a tick bite.  On the way home I thought about it, how something so small can cause so much trouble.  This godly man has made it a practice in his life not to carry around excess baggage, and yet the bite of a tiny Minnesota wood tick could have done him great damage.  Weighing in at less than a few grains of salt, that tick bite could have been fatal.  I guess that shows our luggage of life doesn't have to be big to hurt us.  It all depends on what we're carrying and whether it attacks us where we're most vulnerable.  A bite from a tiny black widow spider can be just as deadly as a bullet, and it's a lot more slow and painful.

          God wants us to travel light, to rid ourselves of the stuff that drags us backward and away from God.  Travelling light means getting rid of all the things we were never meant to carry:  the resentment, regret and raging materialism;  the anger, arrogance and bad attitude;  the pride, prejudice and pickiness that strains out the flea but swallows the camel whole.  Travelling light means trusting God with the burdens we were never intended to bear.

          It also means not living like the Howells and the Whaddiffs.  The Howells and the Whaddiffs are forever saying, "How'll we make it?  How'll we find the money?  What if I get sick?  What if it rains on my parade?  How'll I know what to do?  What if I mess up?"

          One of the best ways to travel light is to practice deliberate thankfulness, to daily give thanks to God for what you have, not what you don't have, for what you are rather than for what you aren't.

          To travel light with thankfulness, you need to know what you are and what you aren't.  You and I are not creatures of accident.  We didn't come into the world by chance, a product of evolution, devoid of God.  The most brilliant scientists in the world today are not the Carl Sagans or the Stephen Jay Goulds who say all life happened by chance and that God is a figment of our imagination.  The greatest thinkers of humanity are those who know there's something greater at work.  They know there's a Divine Being behind the formation of our universe, that we're not the product of random mutation.  Even Einstein said evolution wasn't enough, that it couldn't explain the process of going from simple to complex.  To think that somehow a newborn tiny baby developed randomly by chance makes no more sense than saying a new BMW developed randomly from a violent tornado going through a junk yard.

          We are not an accident - we're children of God, complex creatures created by a loving Almighty God.  We have bodies that house our souls.  Our bodies will not last forever, but our souls will.  It will never die, and so we need to make sure where it's going when our body dies.  And we can only be sure of that when we have faith in Jesus Christ.  "By grace you have saved through faith," the Holy Spirit says (Ephesians 2:8).  Isn't it great to know God forgives sin?  He doesn't count our sins against us, but removes them as far as the East is from the West.  Give thanks every day that you're a forgiven child of God.  It will help you travel a little lighter every day.

          To travel light with thankfulness, you also need to know what you have and who's given it to you.  You and I don't really own anything.  It's all here today and gone tomorrow.  If this Wall Street roller coaster has taught us anything, it's that nothing lasts forever, especially monitary wealth.  And even when you have all you think you need, it's never going to be enough.  We always want just a little more...

          A week ago I climbed the "Rock" twice.  It doesn't take long and is fairly easy.  A group of seven pastors went up on Thursday to pray for the city, and on Saturday I took up some relatives.  Both times it was extremely windy on top.  I held my breath as my niece's daring daughter leaned over the edge.  Uncle Bob had to tell her never to lean against the wind.  Just when you think you're safe, the wind stops and you can fall.

          Seeking a good life through possessions is like leaning on the wind.  It will always betray you!  You and I need to lean on something solid that won't move, something that lasts forever, something from God that gives life a good balance, and we have it all in Jesus Christ.  Travelling light with thankfulness means thanking God every day for our changeless Savior.  He's the One we can count on, no matter what.

          Ever heard a perfect "A"?  This tuning fork gives us the official pitch of the American Federation of Musicians - the key of "A" at 440 vibrations per second.  In an orchestra, the oboe sounds this pitch from which all others take theirs.  In the 18th Century, "A" was about a half step lower, but the 440 "A" is now the official pitch of international orchestras, the note around which all others tune their instruments.  I bought this tuning fork 35 years ago and it still sounds the exact pitch today as it did then.

          You and I all need a perfect 440 "A", a changeless note we can always count on, and you know what?  We already have One.  His name is Yahweh, Jehovah, King of kings, Lord of lords, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Lamb of God, Yeshua Hanosari (Jesus of Nazareth).  He is our changeless Savior.  "Change and decay in all around I see;  O Thou who changest not, abide with me!"  "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)

          St. Paul tells us today, "In everything give thanks."  Okay, HOW?  Here's three practical suggestions:

          (1)  Write a balance sheet - one side for "good" and one side for the "bad", your assets and liabilities.  Include everything you can think of and see how it all balances.  You'll probably find there'll be more good than bad.  Thank God for the good, then pray for the bad.  "IN everything give thanks."

          (2)  Pray with your spouse or with a friend.  Knowing that someone is praying for and with you is a fantastic blessing!  He hears you both!  Contrary to popular opinion, sex is not the greatest intimacy.  Two people praying together is!  God really brings you together.  It's hard to pray with someone else, but try it!  The rewards are so great.

          (3)  Keep a journal - write a paragraph or page each day on what happened - feelings, events, it's like "thinking on paper".  Write it out and then talk to God about it.

          Despite all the bad circumstances, God is good.  He provides all our needs;  He will pull us through.  He gives us hope for living and purpose in dying.  God keeps His promises.  "In everything give thanks," He says.  Travel light with thankfulness, "...For this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."  His Will comes true, always.

          But why?  Why should I be thankful?  If I feel lousy, why can't I just be cranky?  Well, you can!  That's your privilege.  I hereby give each and every one of you permission to be cranky -- for one minute a day and in private!  Now go be cranky if you want!!  I know it's human to be angry, upset at certain times.  Counsellors tell us it's good to let our feelings out, but not at the expense of those around us.  And whatever we choose to do, we still NEED to give thanks.  We are the creature, He's the Creator.  We need to give thanks and others, especially the young, need to hear us give thanks.

          Our world is full of angry, depressed, and cynical people.  It takes no skill to be upset, or to be a pessimist.  Anyone can find something to gripe about.  But it takes the power of God to give thanks in all circumstances.  May we all - here today - learn to travel light with thankfulness.  Amen

Copyright © 2002 by Pastor Bob Tasler.  All rights reserved.