PACKING

When it comes to packing luggage there are two kinds of folks: There are the “you might gonna need it” types and the “ya don’t need to have it” kind.

My mother-in-law used to all the former “packing like a peddler.” The latter was can be defined as the “travel light” crowd.

I used to be the “do without it” kind and would end up somewhere needing a jacket that was hanging in the closet back home. On the other hand, my wife has always packed what might be considered excessively. But, somehow, she always ended up with something that I really appreciated if not really needed.

Over the years I’ve gotten to packing more and she’s gotten to packing less.

The one bad thing, though, is going through security. Anyone who’d mistake Miki for a terrorist – well that’s another story. Her bags will be scrutinized at almost every stop. She’s learned to take out the little children’s paper scissors she travels with and they always decide it’s not an implement of destruction.

Jesus had a parable about packing. Five virgins are described as wise and five foolish. The five wise had packed taking what they needed.

Matthew 25:1-13
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

” ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

“Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’

“But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.