TRAVEL LIGHT

I recently got my travel statistics from Delta and United—37 trips and 103,000 miles in 2024! That’s a whole lot of packing and unpacking! I actually get excited about packing. There’s something about getting ready, organizing what you need, and making sure you’re prepared for where you’re going.

But here’s what I’ve learned—packing well isn’t just about what you take; it’s about what you leave behind. No one brings their entire closet on a trip. You don’t carry unnecessary weight. You bring what’s essential, what will serve you on the journey.

And life is no different. Each of us is on a journey toward the destiny God has prepared for us. Yet, too often, we’re carrying things that don’t belong—burdens that weigh us down, regrets that linger too long, and fears that steal our joy. We carry anxiety over things beyond our control, bitterness over wounds that should have healed, and past failures that God never asked us to bear.

But God gives us wisdom for the road. Hebrews 12:1 says, “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” God doesn’t want you carrying unnecessary baggage. He calls you to throw off—not just set aside, not just repack differently—but completely let go of anything that slows you down.

Some of you are asking for fresh opportunities, but you need to release old disappointments. You’re praying for new relationships, but you’re still holding onto bitterness from the past. When you travel light, you move faster. When you leave behind what’s unnecessary, you make room for the blessings God wants to bring into your life.

So as you pack for the future, ask yourself—am I carrying what God wants me to carry? Am I making space for His joy, peace, and purpose? What baggage do I need to unpack to walk freely into my future? Let’s pack wisely. Let’s leave behind what doesn’t serve us. And let’s move forward into the blessed life God has in store. The lighter we travel, the further we’ll go.

Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan
February 22, 2025