“Memories, patterns, habits, beliefs, and emotional and mental baggage are brought by travelers. Often, we do not know when they begin walking the path with us, and too often we do not see them by our side.”- Heath Adamson
“Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”- 2 Samuel 12:4 (ESV)
Heath Adamson concludes Chapter 5 of The Sacred Chase as he talks about the parable Nathan told King David. Most significantly, Nathan tells David the lamb was like a daughter to the poor man. And the Hebrew word for ‘daughter’ – bath. Think Bathsheba. In addition, the poor man represented Uriah and the rich man King David.
However, Nathan included a fourth character in the parable – the traveler. Mr. Adamson stresses that David’s religious veneer allowed the traveler to blend into his life well. For us, Heath asserts, our past defines us and our future intimidates us for this reason. The traveler must eat. In addition, it’s impossible to fully and completely satisfy the traveler’s insatiable appetite.
As a result, we must display awareness of the traveler’s presence. Because we must deal with that presence in order to prevent it from taking up permanent residence within us.
Finally, both David and Legion fixed their eyes on a destination and ran with all their might in that direction. David ran after something that looked and felt good. Legion, though, ran after Jesus.
Above all, Heath offers these words of hope:
“It is possible to position your heart in such a way that God’s best becomes your new normal. And if your family members, friends, or even strangers go looking in your spiritual attic one day and dust off an old, tattered scrapbook of your life . . . you will be able to say that a heaven-soaked like on earth really doesn’t seem that abnormal after all.”
Today’s question: What emotional and mental baggage travelers bring impact your relationship with God? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Keep catching another glimpse of your identity”
