While thinking about life yesterday, the idea popped on my radar about the heavy loads we often carry.
Yesterday, someone in my world was undergoing serious surgery and had only a 50-50 chance of surviving. Of course, during the weekend, we spent much time on the phone talking through life in general, thinking about what needed to happen if the surgery did not go as planned, and preparing for Easter Weekend…
Heavy Load. Right?
We were blessed on Monday to hear he came through the 12-hour surgery finally. Load lifted, right? Partially. There’s still the recovery process.
Do you have anyone to talk over your burdens with? Perhaps. This weekend, we supported each other and did not talk it out with others. Wise? Maybe not. But it was Easter Weekend. Everyone else has their struggles, so why weigh them down with more?
Can you put a number to “how heavy” the load is? We all carry burdens. Can you weigh a burden?
It’s not scales of justice we’re looking for—though supposedly equal, I’ve seen that load tilted toward wrongdoers and guilty in my experience.
It’s not the weigh scales along the highways that 18-wheelers use for tax and safety purposes.
Nor is it that pesky digital scale at the doctor’s office where they get to show you what you know…Can I at least take my shoes off? Have you ever weighed the clothes you wear each day?
Weight of the World
Intrigued by the thought, I looked for answers to the question, “How much does the world weigh?”
Of course, there is an answer. We cannot comprehend it unless we are mathematicians because scientists who understand math give us the answer.
The Earth weighs 13,170,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 pounds [septillion] (5.974,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 kilograms),
which is also known as its mass.
Scientists use the laws of gravity and mathematics to calculate Earth’s weight
because it is too large to be placed on a scale.
Of course, no one knows if this is correct, and we all know it’s impossible to carry such a load. Thank God for Gravity and Space!
But when ancient thinkers thought about it, they devised a story on how the world is held aloft.
In Greek mythology, Atlas is a Titan condemned to carry the heavens, not the earth, on his shoulders for eternity. The expression “carrying the world on one’s shoulders” comes from this myth.
Whether it be the heavens or the earth, there’s a lot of weight suspended by the laws God put into place.
How Much Is Your Load
Some of us will never know the silent load many carry. You may sense it in their walk or speech, but they hide their load. Some chatter about it way too much, and others stand stalwart in the face of personal storms. We know some will run, others are willing to hide, regardless, the load needs to be carried by someone. Some carry it so lightly. They must be super strong. Others fail too quickly to stand their ground.
I asked AI (ChatGPT) to write me a short poem about the load of a burden. I amended it to fit some Grammarly ideas, but this showed up on my screen in two seconds…
Beneath the weight of burden’s might,
Shoulders strain in a silent fight.
A heavy load upon the soul,
In shadows where the weary stroll.
Each step a struggle, every breath,
A journey through the vale of death.
The weight it presses never wanes,
Like shackles bound with unseen chains.
Yet in the darkness, hope resides,
A light that in the heart abides.
For burdens borne, though heavy laid,
Shall teach us strength and wisdom, bade.
So lift your eyes and face the day,
Though heavy by the load, you sway.
For in the struggle, we may find,
The strength to leave our woes behind.
I’m enjoying AI!
One Final Thought
The cross was laid upon Jesus, or at least his remaining strength allowed Him to pick it up the first time. When it became too much, a bystander was thrust into service and compelled to carry His cross. (Matthew 27:32, Mark 15:21) The account of Luke (23:26) says they laid the cross upon Simon, a Cyrenian, while the other gospels don’t mention the action.
Imagine with me for a moment. Whether compelled into service or in the wrong place at the wrong time, could you carry the cross of another? Paul gives us the example of Christ bearing our burden of sin to the cross and teaching us:
Bear one another’s burdens,
and so fulfill the law of Christ.
(Galatians 6:2 NKJV)
The Law Of Christ: Love each other. Love as Christ loves us. Concerned for the load each is carrying, let’s do our part and not cross to the other side of the road as the Priest and Scribe did. (Luke 10)
Thank you for reading.
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It helps me get my book written!