When you play as a sojourner in a tabletop role playing game, your character looks a lot like you. Usually, they are a person, maybe a hero, equipped with tools needed to succeed on the mission.
Having an “inventory” is a big part of roleplaying games and your character’s loot may mean the difference between life or death!
I have found that players love to peruse through their inventory list when the characters are backed up against a wall in some sort of no - win situation. So how can I take this facet of the game and consider my own life?
What am I carrying?
A friend of mine reminded me that a certain scripture tells us to “carry one another’s burdens (baros) and fulfill the law of Christ”. That’s good.
But yet, a few verses later, the scripture says “he should carry his own load (phortion)”.
without being a Bible scholar, I’m going to assume that each word means something different.
Baros- something you are allowed to carry for another
Phortion - something only you can carry
This makes it simple and reminds us that in our life inventory - the collection of things we have acquired over time must be what we are supposed to carry. We can, or course, carry another’s burden, but we cannot carry another’s load. The burden may be shared, but the load must be a path of one.
You may have noticed that word ‘baros” does sound and look like “borrow” reminding us that we can borrow another’s burden. And the word “phortion” kind of looks like “portion” meaning this is your lot and belongs to no one else.
Some inventory is meant to be shared like a “baros” and some is meant just for you, a portion. The kingdom says “there is plenty” and yet also wants us to share and save. This balance of practice helps us judge what is rightfully ours and what belongs to the community.
So, what are you carrying for yourself? For others? Be mindful today about the things you carry and discern between burdens and loads.
May your story continue!