Bearing Burdens

I was biking along the sidewalk yesterday when I saw the man in the photo. He was lifting a huge tire and flopping it over, then doing the same thing again and again slowly working his way down the sidewalk. Who could pass that by without stopping? I mean, why didn't he just roll the tire? I felt it was my public duty to let him know there was a better way.

"If you don't mind my asking," I said, "What are you doing?"
"Working out," he said, "I own Metro Fitness over there." He pointed to a building across the parking lot.
"Is that what you mean by Metro Fitness," I said, eyeing the giant tire.
"No, I don't make my students do this," he said laughing.
"Do people make fun of you?" I asked.
He flexed a biceps and smirked, "Not often."
I got his permission to take his picture and blog about his unusual fitness regimen. As I biked slowly away, he resumed his slow and painfully laborious trek down the sidewalk with the giant tire.

While he chose to move the tire in the most difficult way possible, I thought about how many of us are caught in a similar sort of trap without meaning to be. We struggle and carry enormous burdens of life because we don't know there is an easier way. We tell the women we counsel at the abortion mill sidewalk all the time that the choice they are making seems like the easiest path, but in reality, it will cause more sorrow, heartache, and problems than it will solve. They are lugging a giant tire rather than rolling it in the path God intends.

I remember a sermon that really struck me. Jesus continually refers to His people as His flock, as 'sheep', and to Himself as the Good Shepherd. The pastor pointed out that sheep are used for many things, but one thing they are never used for is to carry burdens. Their physiology is particularly ill-suited to carrying burdens. Indeed, the good shepherd will bear the burden instead. In fact, he will carry his sheep when they grow weary or are injured.

We are all carrying burdens we are not meant to carry. Jesus tells us to come to Him, take His yoke upon us for His yoke is not heavy.
"All ye who are heavy laden," He cries, "Come, and I will give you rest!!!"
What comforting, soothing words those are when we are so weary that we feel we cannot move another inch.  Cast our burdens on Jesus, because He cares for us!

I heard the man groaning behind me, sweat pouring off of him. I shook my head in amusement, glad I was rolling along on my tires.

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Matthew 11:28-29

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Galatians 6:1-3 

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Galatians 6:2 

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Deuteronomy 28:47-48 

Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things, therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and lacking everything. And he will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he has destroyed you.

Matthew 23:4 

They[ pharisees/hypocritical spiritual leaders] tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.

Isaiah 58:6 

“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?