So every week we get a Sabbath or rest day that should be used to restore one mind and body for the next week. The thing is everyone does this slightly different. Some need alone time, others need to talk, some need to be outside, each person has a way that best restores there mind, body and spirit.
I usually need alone time, but sometimes I need to be active and around people. I was in luck. On a rest day our host family took us on a hike to see 3 crosses in Cusco, Peru elevation 12,500 ft. I haven’t done a lot of hiking in my life but I do enjoy it even when I can’t breathe. The thing is I was undertaking this high altitude hike with a chest cough. Not so fun, but so worth it.
At times we could see different parts of the valley, places we’d been in the last week that normally we couldn’t see, and at time we could even see our destination, but although we could see them, there was still a lot of hiking to be done to get there. As we came close to the crosses we took time to admire them from afar. They are spectacular, however as we approached one of the first things you notice is the garbage. The 3 crosses are considered sacred by Peruvians yet they leave their garbage just lying around. We spent some time soaking in the views, and resting.
In one direction you can see Cusco, in the other direction you see mountains and valleys. I spent time looking at both. When I sat and thought about the garbage at the 3 crosses I thought how fitting, as Christians we are taught to bring our burdens and baggage to the cross and leave it, yet when we see a physical representation we look on in disgust and (hopefully) pack up our garbage before we leave. I think this is something we do in real life as well, we bring our “garbage” to the cross but instead of leaving it there we pick it up again. We… I forget that being a Christian isn’t supposed to be without mess, its being intentional in relationships and forgiveness its not about forgetting just like we take the physical wrappers with us when we leave, we take memories but the substance is gone when you leave it at the cross, and eventually even the memories will fade.
There is true freedom when we lay our burdens at the cross and leave them there. Im not sure about the rest of you but I am so happy when on the hike back home my pack is lighter and that Im working with gravity rather than against it. The path home isn’;t easy, but not carrying the extra weight and knowing I am going home provides so much joy that even though my footing isn’t as sure it doesn’t matter.
