Packing for Pilgrimage- Jesus, I Trust in You!

It's crazy to think that in less than 48 hours I will be on the plane and heading towards the Holy Land. How am I feeling? Well, that's a good question. I guess you might say I am filled with a variety of emotions as I eagerly anticipate Friday. There is of course excitement- excitement about the experience that lies ahead. Then there is curiosity- what is life like in the Holy Land? What will my experience be while in the Holy Land. There is some fear- is the Holy Land really safe to be traveling to in this day in age? And then there is humble gratitude- how blessed I am to have this opportunity to journey along with other educators to the homeland of Jesus, my Savior.

One of my favorite things to do when I travel is pack. For some, it may seem tedious, but for me it helps to build the excitement. I dream of the adventures I will have while wearing a particular pair of shoes, get in touch with my love of meteorology (I used to want to be a meteorologist- until I realized my extreme fear of storms might get in the way of reporting the weather in a calm manner.) by checking the weather and bringing along the necessary clothing articles.

 I have always had a fascination with bags. As a child, my mom was constantly on me because I always had bags and of course failed to open them. So many days I would tell her I couldn't find something, only to find it later that day in a bag I had failed to unpack from earlier in the week. Like many teachers, I definitely have pack rat tendencies, which is perhaps why I love packing so much. Typically when I go on a trip, I overpack. I never want to be without something that I might need or desire. I want to have a selection of clothing to choose from.

But, packing for pilgrimage in the Holy Land has been different. We have been praying a novena, which will end on Friday. One of the lines in the novena says, "Holy Mary, our beautiful Mother, help us to prepare wisely for our trip, taking on what is essential and leaving all else behind."  Today while packing, this line kept playing over and over in my head. As I packed the necessary things for our pilgrimage, I tried very hard to keep it just at that- exactly what I needed and not much else. Not much else- that's where it gets hard. Sure, I packed minimally for myself, but I found myself saying to Jesus as I packed, "Do I have everything, Lord? Have I forgotten anything?"

The reality is, of course I do! And if I don't...He will provide. Time and time again I have witnessed this while going on pilgrimages. A few years ago I volunteered in Lourdes. My bag didn't make it to Lourdes with me. Instead, it was having an adventure of its own somewhere at the JFK airport in New York for a few days. Immediately, I panicked. I didn't have my hair dryer, my pajamas, clean socks. But, by God's grace, I had put my volunteer uniform in my carry on bag, just in case something went missing with my bag. How grateful I was that He had prompted me to do this when I had gotten to the airport, before checking my bag, allowing me to begin volunteering on schedule. He sent along some amazing fellow volunteers who leant me the necessities until my bag arrived five days later. It was a long five days, but honestly, it stripped me in a good way. Instead of being concerned about how my hair looked or having a variety of outfits, I could focus solely on my volunteering and meeting Christ in the lives and hearts of those I served and those I served along with.

So, today after doing a bit of over-packing, I took a few things out of my bag and said, "Jesus, I trust in you." Jesus, I trust you to help me have packed only the things I need. Jesus, I trust you to protect us as we travel to the Holy Land. Jesus, I trust you will take care of those whom I leave behind here at home while I am on pilgrimage. Jesus, I trust that you will change my heart and draw me closer to you while on pilgrimage. Jesus, I trust in you!

Blessings,
Julie