Being Emptied
In a past post I mentioned that I read this book called Hiking the Camino. I lot of things have stayed with me since reading that book. For example, below:
We live in a society where we accumulate. Accumulate stuff, accumulate knowledge, accumulate skill. But maybe as Christians we are ought to think differently.
What is it that you want me to get rid of God?
What extra baggage am I carrying in my soul?
“The spiritual life is not about building up or acquiring; rather, it is about being stripped, being emptied.”
What are the the chains holding me back? What is it that I need to throw off to be more like Christ?
“It is my desire to get rid of everything in my life that is not Christ so that he alone can be seen.”
These were the many quotes from this chapter that got me to thinking. What is it that you want me to get rid of God? What extra baggage am I carrying?
Then this past weekend I headed to MYC, a youth conference. I absolutely love these events and watching students be transformed, inspired and encouraged in their faith. They can let down, feel safe and can truly experience the work of the Holy Spirit in them. One speaker was fantastic and spoke to this idea of extra weight we carry around and that weight is shame and another being performance.
Shame is a weight that can absolutely burry us and it’s one that is hard to throw off. In my personal belief, it’s a struggle everyone will contend with in this life to certian degrees and the only way to truly dump the weight of shame is to pick up the yoke of God’s love.
One thing that forever changed my heart was when our pastor described the cross and crucifixion so vividly and explained that when we don’t lay our burdens down at the foot of the cross, we make a mockery of the cross. He yearns, desires, asks us to lay down that extra baggage, so to that yes I agree with this book.
But, the christian life is not just about being emptied. It’s about being filled. It’s about picking up the cross, yoking it with the Lord, and letting him carry our burdens, letting Him fill our soul with His love, His word, and His life.
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