“The Backpack”

I had this feeling in the middle of the night to write about the spiritual aspects of carrying a back pack.

I learned this analogy many years ago when I was teaching water aerobics at the local gym.

One of my students who worked with Alzheimer’s patients was telling me the schedule she carried everyday. It was physically and emotionally grueling to her to care for these patients and my heart ached for her when she told me her schedule.

I asked her how she goes to these patients homes without feeling sad or burdened by this incredible hardship that they carry?

She told me that she takes a pretend backpack with her. When their session is over she takes the burden out of her backpack and then she goes to the next client.

After each patient she sees, she leaves the burden with them and knows that she can’t carry their burden, but she can lighten their load.

I loved this analogy and know that I too cannot carry everyone’s burdens. I can’t save anyone but myself and some days I can barely do that.

I thought about all the things that I want to go in my back pack every day. The beautiful things that help me to become a better person.

I try to pray every morning, I read a few verses from the BOM when I can, I meditate and have done YOGA a lot since my second oldest brother died last March from pancreatic cancer.

Exercise is a no brainer for me and I notice a huge difference in my day when I choose to exercise.

On the good days I look out my bedroom window and am in awe of how truly beautiful it is in Alpine Utah,

( I try to clean out one drawer everyday ) but this is extremely hard for me and something I need to work on.

Carrying a backpack is similar to carrying our burdens, hopes, dreams, and lessons.

It holds the necessities and tools that sustain us on our journey through life, implying the need for preparedness and self-assurance.

My husband Daren had been carrying this huge black bag for years to work. He stuffs everything you can possibly find in it and then some.

I carried it for him the other day and I almost passed out because it was SO HEAVY.

The lighter the burden the easier it is to progress. There’s a lot of emotional and physical baggage that we hold onto that does nothing but bring us down, it’s not necessary to hold onto to it and the term “LET IT GO” does really mean letting it go.

Mathew 11: 28-30

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

This spiritual lessons of life seem to sustain me when the physical and mortal journey becomes extremely difficult