Weighed Down

When the old sailor, known to us as Coleridge’s Ancient Mariner, shot the Albatross with his crossbow the other sailors took it and placed it on his shoulders. He carried it day after day as a reminder of his sin and guilt.

How often we are weighed down by burdens, the burden of work which is unrewarding or not appreciated, the burden of worry and anxiety or the burden of trying to compete with others.

Jesus is saying today to forget about those other burdens and take on our shoulders instead the burden he gently places upon them.   Place on your shoulders a burden of love -  already you feel a weight is lifted and replaced by something so light. Place on your shoulders the burden of gentleness – how light that is to carry. Or how about the burden of humility – just be yourself before God, not dancing to someone else’s tune or expectations.

Perhaps today you might think about the burdens which are weighing you down.  Who is putting them  there or did you put them there yourself?

We can exchange them – anything to ease the burden of life and living!

Michael McCullagh c.m.

6th July, 2008