Carry-ons Only

Back in the 1980s, I traveled to India several times. It was my practice to pack one change of socks and underwear in my carry-on bag along with my shaving kit, passport and other essentials. The rest of my clothes and travel accoutrements would go in my checked luggage.

On one of those journeys, I arrived in Bombay (now known as Mumbai) only to be informed that the bag that I had checked did not arrive with me. Since I was catching a connecting flight in country, I could not await my luggage, but went on without it.

Arriving at my destination, I went to the marketplace and purchased another change of socks and underwear, and one more shirt. With this limited wardrobe, I traveled for three weeks very comfortably. Each evening I would wash out my shirt, underwear and socks, hang them up in my room, and by morning they would be dry. This routine continued throughout my entire trek.

Finally, on my way out of the country, I passed again through Mumbai, picked up my wayward bag and went home.

Because of this experience, I realized that I could travel a lot lighter than I had previously. Many of the items that I considered "necessities" were actually only added weight for the journey. Without them, I passed much more rapidly through customs, waited less time at my destinations, and arrived much more refreshed.

Secondly, I discovered that I did not need to be a slave to fashion. Not once in all my travels did anyone comment on my wardrobe and say: "Oh, you're wearing the same outfit as yesterday!" Even if they were thinking it, never did it become an obstacle.

Lastly, I learned the freedom that comes from not being focused on the material measures of my person. "Clothes do not the man make", as someone once said. I was free to place my energies on the point of my trip - to meet with and help other people.

In these times of economic stress, all these lessons have continued to serve me well. Voluntary simplicity brings great freedom to life. The truth of Jesus' words echoes loudly in my ears: "Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap...yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they?...See the lilies of the field. They do not work or spin, yet not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed like one of these...Stop worrying then over questions like 'What are we to eat, or what are we to drink, or what are we to wear?'...Your heavenly Father knows all that you need." Matthew 7:26-34.

Traveling lightly with only a carry-on makes the journey of life much easier. Since we are only pilgrims passing through this world, why do we let ourselves become burdened down with excess baggage?