I am the queen of over-packing! Well, actually, my sister is but I come in a close second. I like to pack for every eventuality. I’ll check the weather forecast – not trust it – and pack for four seasons even in mid-summer. I generally have a first-aid kit that will treat every dreaded illness and is sufficient to perform minor surgery. I’ll pack books I intend to read yet know will return home unopened. But, who knows? I might have a spare moment and want to read just that book right then! The concept of ‘you can get what you need where we’re going’ doesn’t sit comfortably with me.
However, on our recent trip to Egypt I was challenged to pack light. I didn’t want to haul heavy suitcases around, and wasn’t sure about what our accommodation would be, or how often we’d be moving from place to place.
I had intended on taking just the one pair of shoes. I was very proud of myself. My decision did cause a team member to have mild panic attacks on my behalf – so I packed a pair of sneakers as well (I didn’t wear them once!) My decision also caused my sister to go into shock – so I added a pair of sandals to keep her happy. But, I didn’t need either of those extra pairs of shoes.
I did bring a collapsable kettle (did you know you got such a thing!) and a collapsable mug – for my coffee. I stopped at packing my own coffee plunger, that felt a little too over the top, and settled for sachets of coffee. I only used the kettle once!
The question is, how much do we really need? We live in a world that constantly tells us we need more – more stuff, more success, more achievements, more everything. We’re already being bombarded with Black Friday and Christmas marketing – telling us we need to buy MORE. It’s easy to get caught in the cycle of “I need this to be happy,” or “I need that to feel secure.” But what if – just maybe – what we actually need is less than we think?
Psalm 23:1 reminds us, “The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing.” That’s a bold statement, isn’t it? David, the man who knew a thing or two about running for his life and fighting battles, writes this from a place of trust – not in his own strength or his possessions, but in God’s provision. He didn’t need all the fancy things or the perfect circumstances. He needed God.
So, why do we constantly chase after “more”? Perhaps it’s because we believe the lie that our worth and security are tied to what we own or achieve. And let’s be honest – there’s a little voice in our heads that whispers, “You’ll feel better if you just get the new phone… or a bigger house… or maybe just a bit more sleep.” But, in reality, most of us have way more than we think we do – more grace, more love, more provision from our Heavenly Shepherd than we could ever truly deserve.
Let’s take a quick inventory of what we actually need:
Food:
I think we can all agree that a solid meal is a blessing. But do we really need a 5-course dinner every night? Probably not. A simpler meal can do wonders for the soul – and the waistline (this is a note to myself!)
Clothing:
Sure, a cupboard full of the latest trends is fun, but we don’t need 17 pairs of sneakers in every colour under the sun. I think if we looked at what is in our cupboards, what we actually wear, we’d be surprised at the excess.
Comfort:
The “I need more comfort” mentality often sneaks in – whether it’s the perfect house, or the perfect car, the perfect lounge suite. Sometimes, our discomforts teach us more about trust and gratitude than our cozy couches ever could. Plus, have you ever seen how comfy a church pew can be if you’re really paying attention? (Okay, maybe we’re still working on that one.)
Peace:
Isn’t peace the ultimate prize? The world offers us all sorts of things in exchange for peace – things that promise to fill our lives but often leave us feeling emptier. But God’s peace? That’s a different story. And we can have that peace right now, no matter what’s going on around us.
When we pause to reflect on what we truly need, we start to realise that God has already provided far more than enough for us. We may not always feel like we have it all together, but we can rest in the truth that we are never lacking in what matters most.
Here’s the twist… when we recognize that we need less than we think, we free ourselves up to focus on what really matters. We stop chasing after fleeting things and start chasing after God. And when we do that, we find that our joy, our security, and our peace multiply, not because we have more stuff, but because we have more of Him.
So, let’s try something this week:
Instead of wishing for more, let’s practice gratitude for what we have. And, in the process, let’s remember that our Shepherd has already given us everything we truly need.
And, maybe consider donating your excess to someone else. We might need less, but there’s always room for more generosity.
With love
Your friend and rector,
Claire