Packing

     Just for the record, this was not my packing job.  Our youngest son, anxious to get on the road to the mountains, figured he'd devised an ingenious plan to carefully choose, fold, and pack his clothes. Please see the above laundry bag stuffed with clothing he found in under 2 minutes.  Who needs a suitcase?  What could be better than a laundry bag jammed with everything you need?  Easy access every morning--just reach in and whatever you pull out, voila, your outfit for the day!  And I can only imagine how neat and organized this will all be in his room in the mountains.  Sigh.
     Despite our pathetic packing job (I'm not much better as I tend to bring everything, and I mean everything, needed to survive a prolonged siege or possible nuclear attack... especially chocolate), we managed to arrive in the mountains and happily unloaded.  Boy, there's just nothing like getting in the car one place, sweaty and grumpy, and magically, just a few hours later, stepping out of the car in a whole new world of beauty and cool temperatures.
     But just one comment on packing for trips:  Moses detests packing.  Seriously, he all but told us so.  The moment he sees the first bag appear in the hall, he adopts a worried, pitifully anxiety-ridden expression on his face.  This must be the origin of the phrase "hang dog look," because believe me, when the suitcases come out, that's his look.  As soon as we begin loading the car, well then he walks back and forth with us to the car, ever alert to the possibility of jumping in the car and refusing to get out, even on pain of death.
     Doesn't matter what we do--put out his leash and dog bowl so he knows he's going, repeatedly reassure him that he's going, give him extra treats and attention, constantly remind him that we've never left him behind--he's just one desperate dog.  But when we finally tell him to jump in the car--joy and rapture.
     And when we finally arrive in the cool, fragrant mountains, everyone's thrilled, especially Moses.  Here he is with a smile on his face, resting in the grass while watching us unpack our plethora of bags, groceries, books, and chocolate:

        But how often does this reflect my worried attitude?  You can learn a lot from your dog, and Moses clearly has my propensity towards fretting.  When will Moses and I learn?!  God has it!  He's had it all along.  He's got everything under control, and we just need to trust Him.  Has He ever left me behind?  Has He ever failed to meet my needs?  Just because there may be a few disquieting signs on the horizon, surely this is no reason to cause us to doubt our ever faithful Lord!  Those bags sitting in the hall that cause Moses such consternation, ultimately will result in the blessing of mountains for our dog.  And those things that cause us to grow anxious and discouraged will just as surely be used by God for His glory and our good.
     God commands us "Do not be anxious about anything; but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:6-7)
     How often I need to remind my restless heart:  anxious about nothing, prayer and thanksgiving about everything.  And trust that the Savior who gave His all, His very life, so that we need never ever be left behind, will be with us on the journey and will bring us all joyfully home.
     Moses, don't worry: we've got you.  And God has us every step of the way too. He will never leave us or forsake us. (Heb.13:5)  He's promised in His Word and that which God promises, He always always always fulfills.  Time to jettison the worry and enjoy the journey with our ever faithful Father.  To God be the glory.