Then Jesus said, “When I sent you out and told you to travel light, to take only the bare necessities, did you get along all right?” “Certainly,” they said, “we got along just fine.” Luke 22:35 (The Message)
What a difference in my traveling experience this trip to Guatemala. Because I am the only one from my church going on this trip, I am not responsible for getting a large group of people from one place to another. The cost of flying to Miami for one person is less than the gas to drive there, so I got a ticket from Tampa to Miami for a flight that will be less than 45 minutes instead of taking a five hour drive. Instead of getting on the church bus at the crack of dawn, I drove over two bridges in 25 minutes to wait longer at the gate than my actual flight will take. And, because I am flying an airline that partners with TACA, the Guatemalan airline, I checked my luggage all the way to Guatemala City instead of dragging it around the Miami airport. And the best news of all, I went through security in Tampa where they are generally kind and efficient instead of Miami, a rude and humiliating process where they yell and herd you through like bawling cattle. I know for a fact that I am supposed to be on this trip, but that does not make it any easier to leave my family and my work for a week or fly which I am not fond of doing. I was complaining about it to husband this morning and he replied, “No one said it would be easy.” He is right, but at least the travel will be easier. Unlike my last week at work which was so stressful that I had a headache for four days in a row and by Thursday, my eye was twitching and would not stop. At the last minute, I was assigned two grant applications and a PowerPoint to prepare. I got them done and also an employee evaluation and preparations for a special event that will take place when I return, but it meant skipping lunch and staying late. Leaving my personal preparations like refilling medications, getting cash (all new bills in ones, fives and tens because that is what they require in the market), and weighing my bags at the grocery store. I am travelling light this go round. Experience is the best teacher, but I am slow to learn. This is my fifth trip, and I finally decided to leave my large camera at home and bring husband’s pocket sized one. I also have only one pair of shoes, the ones I am wearing now, reduced the amount of non prescription medicines I am carrying, brought scrub pants instead of jeans as they can be rolled up in a tiny space and purchased two shirts that are quick drying and can be washed in the sink every night and will be dry by the morning. Though I didn’t get so far as bringing only one pair of underwear, I have all of my personal items in one carry on weighing less eighteen pounds and a backpack with the things that had to be pulled out at security like my small computer and liquids like shampoos. Check in and security were a breeze and I did not have to stress about whether my carry on would fit in the overhead bin because it was so small. I am currently on the plane to Miami and in the time it took to write this, we are already preparing to land Miami. Yes, travelling light is a good thing. I need to remember this in real life as I carry a lot of baggage with me every day not just when I am flying. Learning to let go, my new mantra.
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