Rethinking Baggage

I was talking with some friends the other night, and one of them said, “Everyone’s got baggage.” The comment made me step back and think. Generally, when we say someone has baggage, it is a negative thing. It speaks of problems or emotional issues that have marred in some way the ‘wholeness’ of a person. At the very least, it implies some additional, weighty issues that come along with a person wherever he or she goes. But if we all have baggage, why is the term always negative? Can a person have positive baggage? And what does our baggage truly say about us?

Webster defines baggage as:
1: suitcases, trunks, and personal belongings of travelers: luggage

While I know that some people are chronic over-packers, I think there is a global understanding that baggage is meant for the things we need on a trip. Those needs may change depending on our destination, but we pack our bags based on what we know of ourselves, what we have planned to do while away, and what we can reasonably expect might occur. We bring with us items that we already own- things we have used in our lives at home, but which will continue to be useful even in a new environment. If we all have baggage in our lives, doesn’t it just mean that we all bring along with us the things we think we need for wherever we are going? I think we carry in our emotional duffel bag the history of the hurts and joys we've experienced and the lessons we've taken from them.

Baggage can be positive or negative. We can choose to pack light, with only the necessary items, or we can be over-packers. If we have been in a blizzard without a jacket, we may be tempted to bring a down jacket to Florida in July, but it won’t be useful and it will take up valuable space for the things we really do need. In the same way, I am convinced that the emotional baggage we have can be functional or detrimental, but we can choose which. While I don’t think it’s possible to ever truly forget the painful things we’ve experienced, I think one of the greatest things about living life is the opportunity to see mistakes become lessons and pain become strength. Ours is a God who gives us beauty for ashes and joy for mourning, and we have the privilege to make use of His heart for renewal and repair.

I am usually a light packer, but it is an acquired skill. I start by throwing everything I think I might possibly want toward the general direction of my suitcase. Then I sort through the mountain of stuff and ask myself if I really NEED a second pair of high heels for a 5-day trip to the beach (I might). After a few rounds of arguing with myself, I whittle my things down to fit in one smallish suitcase. At the end of it all, I arrive at my destination well prepared for a pleasant trip, but it always takes time and effort on my part to get there. I think the same can be said of emotional baggage. I think we have to put conscious thought into what pieces of our past we keep with us. We have to give our hurts over to the One who can make them useful. We have to allow previous pain to age and become wisdom before we pack up and head for a new destination.
Otherwise, we might arrive with a too many suitcases and no toothbrush.