Have you ever carried a burden?
On the FREEDOM TOUR there’s a lot of conversation about rocks. Some might say you need a head filled with rocks to do this crazy thing, but that’s another discussion. Each of our team members carried two rocks with them during the entire 500-mile journey.
Stones were symbols in ancient Israel. After the exiles crossed into the Promised Land, Joshua called one man from each tribe to bring a stone from the river and construct an altar.
“In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.” (Joshua 4:6b-7)
The rocks on the FREEDOM TOUR symbolized two ideas each person wished to carry along the path.
The first was a burden, something borne for too long. The burden was written on a stone, carried for 500 miles, lugged up Raton Pass, and left there in our own altar. We offered a prayer that Jesus would help us in our resolve to leave these burdens behind, to give them to God.
The second was a gift, memory, or goal each person wanted to take home from the tour. That reminder was also written on a stone, but this one came home with us. Some wrote on the back of the beautiful stone crafted by our friend Cindy Dalton, The Imperfect Potter. Hopefully these stones will serve a purpose similar to the altar from Joshua 4.
When we see them, we’ll remember.
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There was another “rock story” on this year’s tour that wasn’t quite so serious.
I’ve told you about our teammate Kent and his recumbent cycle. Kent can pedal all day, but recumbents by design aren’t efficient climbers.
Kent adapted by starting early on the days with big hills, which worked great since he’s normally an early riser. One rider offered to accompany him each day so he wasn’t alone.
I also told you Kent climbed the hills much faster than we imagined. We were all extremely impressed, and that’s where this story begins.
After Kent zipped over Palmer Divide so quickly, a couple of us decided that perhaps he needed a bit of a handicap. So in our team circle that evening we presented him with a new stone and suggested that he carry it up the hills to slow him down.
Sadly, the church from whom we “borrowed” this rock wanted it back in their landscape. So Kent continued to amaze us with his ability to pedal his bike up the hills, including Raton Pass.
Nobody said you can’t have a little fun on a mission trip.
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How about the burdens you carry? You don’t have to ride your bike up a mountain pass to leave them with God. Jesus invites you and me, right now, to stop carrying stuff He already paid for. Toss out the excess baggage.
Let’s live, and serve, and love, in the lightness and freedom He intends for us.