A Bundle of Staves is a Heavy Burden

The pastor of the church we visited on Sunday quoted a puritan writer (he didn't say which one). It was a quote I had not heard before, but it struck me as true and relevant (despite the use of the word "staves").

"One staff aids a traveler, but a bundle of staves is a heavy burden."

 My husband and I love to hike. If the weather is good, you can find us climbing some hill or trekking through some forest on most weekends. Often, we see serious hikers on these trails. How do we know they are serious? By their camelbacks, expensive boots, and titanium (or other light-weight metal) hiking poles. Some people use one, others use two, but I have never seen a hiker with more than two poles at a time (except for a father who was carying his little girl and her hiking poles). And that father is a perfect example of how even the original two hiking poles becames a burden (not to mention the ones his daughter had been using!).

In a day and age when we are told that if some is good then more is better, the above phrase tosses modern logic on its head. There are so many instances (outside of hiking poles) that I can remember where more did NOT turn out to be better. One that quickly comes to mind is a story I posted several years ago about baking with my friend's children (feel free to read it at your liesure).

What I really took from this, though, is the need to re-evaluate. I get easily caught up in what I want and sometimes forget what is needed. Here is a list of some things I need less of, and the "more" that needs to replace it:
1. Less talking (more listening)
2. Less complaining (more gratefulness AND patience!)
3. Less procrastination (more action)
4. Less anger (more kindness)
5. Less "things" (more contentment)