“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” – Epicurus
By Brenda Cannon Henley
In talking with one of my grandchildren the other day, I discovered a phenomenon that has not changed since I was a teen, and believe me, that has been a very long time now. (I will celebrate my 75th birthday on December 23rd). He wanted what he did not have, when just a few weeks ago, he wanted what he now has.

He lived to get his driver’s license, graduate from school, perhaps get a good job, and work for a year or so before college or the military. He has all that and now wants a better or different vehicle, to travel more, and of course, to have more money at the end of the week or month. Oh, and did I mention a wife, new home, fancy car, nice landscaping, and money in the bank? Laughing to myself, I decided he is no different than most of us. We just want for different things at different times in our lives.

While reflecting on this conversation, I read a little story that came to my inbox. I enjoyed it and hope I grasped the meaning the writer intended. To paraphrase the sentiment, a kind woman had reached her early 60s and realized that she had done little of what she had wanted to do with her life. She had worked hard, been faithful to her family and community, had traveled little, not explored new ideas and horizons, or taken part in many things in which she found interest. She had lived her entire life in the same small town never venturing past the city limit signs.

Reaching a milestone decision, she sold her home, quit her job, divided out her possessions among family and friends, and kept only the bare essentials in life. She packed what she needed to exist in a new backpack and started out on the journey of a lifetime. Her first miles were amazing. She could hardly contain her excitement. She was seeing the world and discovering wonderful things around each turn. She finally felt she was living the life she had only dreamed in the past. She traveled for several days in sheer glee before becoming tired and a bit weary. She rested. She ate. And, she journeyed on finding fewer and fewer joys on the trail she had chosen.

The road took a toll on her body and she soon felt misplaced and she missed home and the few comforts she had enjoyed there. As her feet and legs grew more weary with each mile, she took off her backpack and threw it on the ground. She sat down beside it and tears streamed down her face. She concluded, “I have nothing at all.” And she screamed at the top of her lungs, “I have nothing left of my life.” The village guru from a nearby village was resting quietly behind a tree near the woman. He heard her pleas and felt he should help her. Jumping out from behind the tree, he grabbed her backpack and started running into the heavy forest that bordered the road. “That backpack was all I have,” she cried, “And now, it is gone. What will I do?” The woman cried for a few more minutes and released needed tears.

In the meantime, the old guru cut through the forest, which he knew well, and placed the backpack in the middle of the road just a short distance from the woman. When the woman saw the backpack in the road, she cried yet again. She could not believe what she was seeing. “Oh, thank God, I have my backpack and my things again,” she said. “Now I can continue on my journey to see the world. I am so grateful.”

As we grow and mature, all of us will come to times when we feel we cannot go on. We simply do not have what we need to make the hard journey. We give up and sit down in the dirt to nurse our sadness. But just as the woman in the story seemingly stumbled upon the village guru, God puts people in our path that hold backpacks of support that comes to our aid. It can be a simple note, card, or email. Perhaps a letter or a text message will arrive, or even a phone call offering encouragement. Could be a book, blog article, sermon, lesson, or helpful neighbor that brings just the hope we need at the moment.

We must learn to trust the journey, even when we do not understand where it is taking us. I tried to get this principle over to my grandson and encourage him not to be envious, discouraged, or a quitter. I trust that he got at least a portion of it and that he won’t let his wants of the hour disillusion him from working and gaining ground the old fashioned way – earning it.

I pray today for each of our readers that we will offer that backpack of encouragement when our fellow travelers need it most. The holiday season is a great time to practice this truth. Who knows when God will use us to lift the load off some weary pilgrim’s shoulder?

Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at (409) 781 8788, or
[email protected].

[12-18-2017]