Burdens: Samwise Gamgee...and Jesus (Part I)

Poor beast!  (Have you ever felt like this?) The load he pulled was so heavy - and lopsided -  he ended up unable to move, unable to do anything to help himself.  There are burdens that can  virtually paralyze.

I am finally getting on my feet after almost two weeks of illness, most of the time spent laying either on my bed or on the sofa.  Since I couldn't do much of anything productive, I watched a number of movies. In the latter part of The Return of the King, I waited for one of my favorite parts.

Frodo and Samwise struggle up the rough, rocky mountainside, both of them exhausted.  Frodo carries a crushing, paralyzing burden  - the Ring -  and cannot keep going.  Samwise knows the ring must be thrown into the volcano, and offers to carry the ring for Frodo, who explains why that simply can't be. So Samwise musters all the strength he has left and says, "Come, Mr. Frodo! I can't carry it for you...but I can carry you!"  Lifting the smaller hobbit, he carries him to the completion of their mission.
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St. Paul wrote: "Carry one another's burdens and in this way you will fulfill the requirements of the law of Christ {that is, the law of Christian love}."  (Galatians 6:2, Amplified Bible)*

There are times when, though we would like to "carry another's burdens", we find it impossible...like Samwise did.  He was able to pick up the burden-bearer and continue. But there are times when we simply can't "carry" that person as he/she labors under a heavy burden. What can we do?

There is never "nothing I can do".  There are usually other ways in which we can help, but most importantly, we can always pray...and pray that this person will end up where this short poem ends up!

                                             Falling

                                    I'm falling...falling...
                                    can't keep holding on.
                                    My grip is too weak
                                    and my strength almost gone;

                                    down through miasmas
                                    of fainting and fears;
                                    down through the sandstorms
                                    of turmoil and tears;

                                     grazing the claws
                                     of our Foe's deadly charms;
                                     falling...falling...
                                     right into Your arms!
                                                                                        ---Becky Rhon
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What a wonderful place to end up!  In fact, I think we could say that the troubles and difficulties that affect us can actually be "blessings in disguise" IF the outcome is to fall right into our loving Shepherd's arms!

Yes, He carries us!  The Word of God has many references to God carrying our burdens AND carrying us.  In next week's post, we'll look at some of these beautiful, heartening verses.  Please join me!
                                 
(Here's a "preview".)

"Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens."   (Psalm 68:19)
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(*Yes, there's a verse that says each person should shoulder his own load. That's not a contradiction.  We'll look at it next week, OK?)