Christian Latina Leadership Blog

By Alicia Zorzoli

Para leer la versión en español haga clic aquí.

Years ago, I held a position in a Christian organization that required traveling to different parts of the world. Right after my induction, I bought a very large suitcase for those trips. That humongous suitcase accompanied me during all those years, holding everything I considered essential to fulfill my duties. (Things were different at that time: airlines did not charge to check suitcases on international flights, even if you checked more than one!)

Lately the rules were changed by the airlines and now there is a price for every piece of luggage you want to check. That made me change my perspective on traveling. It was not only due to the financial expense but, more important, it made me think on what I really needed to take for my trip and what is just clutter. I’m proud to say that on a recent almost three-week abroad trip, I just took a carry-on; and, it was not completely full! (I still need to work on taking no more than 3 pairs of footwear). As I see it, there are three takeaways for this new perspective: I saved money, my back was thankful, and I was sure my suitcase would arrive with me.

All of this takes me to the wisdom of God’s word regarding something similar but much more important. It has to do with cluttering our lives with non-essentials and the need to declutter. The dictionary says that to declutter is to remove from a space anything that does not belong in that space. 

It is easy to start filling our days with too much social media, idle conversations, compulsive shopping, overspending or any other kind of clutter. We may get to the point of finding ourselves surrounded by needless things that fill our space.

And the same can occur in the realm of our minds. We listen to voices that tell us what to think, that convince us of the need to achieve more, or to have what everybody else has.

Not only are those things not important; but also, they are taking the place of what really matters.  

God’s wisdom is very clear concerning the need to declutter: Let’s throw off any extra baggage, get rid of the sin that trips us up… (Hebrews 12:1, CEB.) 

As Christians, this is much more important than deciding to just take a carry-on on our next trip. It means getting rid of thoughts, goals, preconceived ideas or anything else that may hinder God’s perfect plan for us. 

One of the main objectives of the Christian Latina Leadership Institute is to help our students to:

• Identify the things that are cluttering their lives, careers, or ministries, and take action to throw off any extra baggage in order to be all God wants them to be.
• Avoid getting entangled with ideas, teachings, ways of doing things that do not follow God’s plan for them considering them a sin that trips us up. 
• Identify and stand firmly grounded in what is essential, seeking the help of the Holy Spirit to clearly define God’s call for each one of them according only to His Word, and not allowing anyone with preconceived ideas to deviate them from the place God has given them. 

I want to invite you to reflect on your life and consider the areas that may require you to get rid of things that are nonessential, in order to make room for what is important. 

It may be a little difficult at first, but just as it happened to me, soon you will realize that it is better to travel through life with light luggage. It will allow you to concentrate on what is most important: God’s perfect plan for you.

I want to invite you to reflect on your life and consider the areas that may require you to get rid of things that are nonessential, in order to make room for what is important. 

It may be a little difficult at first, but just as it happened to me, soon you will realize that it is better to travel through life with light luggage. It will allow you to concentrate on what is most important: God’s perfect plan for you.