Have you ever came to a place in life where you just wanted to pack up everything and MOVE way across country; almost like the old Cheers theme song “Making your way in the world today takes everything you’ve got; Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot. Wouldn’t you like to get away?

I have been there on many occasions – Have You?

We recently received a call from a family member back home, “Whom was wanting to get away” from their day to day problems, circle of so-called friends, pretty much just everything involving their current environment and then they said that magic word “I just need a CHANGE!” Now don’t get me wrong “Change is good; it’s a word that I have no problem with embracing – but when you’re expecting that Change to come by way of “Moving across several states to outrun a problem or issue” Sad to say, it becomes not so embracing as it sounds and you will not experience the joys of a “True Change”.

I remember, every time a problem hit me – I was ready to jump ship, If a church turned out not to be what I expected – I jumped, If a job turned out to be a bad choice – I jumped, If someone disagreed with a decision I made – I jumped out of the friendship and/or relationship. I found myself jumping more than I would stay rooted. I was always ready to Pack my Bags and ship out to the next person, place and/or life. What I quickly came to realize is that no matter where I “Jumped” too – that same issue and/or problem followed me like a plague. I would find myself jumping situations I necessarily didn’t want to face or be confronted with – I would never take the bull by the horns and face a problem head on..

I have gotten better about this, although sometimes I feel the need to have a Cheers or Calgon moment; a lot of times we find ourselves packing our bags due to situations that we have knowingly placed our own selves into and when the deal goes bad, we don’t want to be a part of that situation anymore. We tend to think that if we could just leave, everything will be okay – We could think better, We could do better, things will change because we’re in a new atmosphere, with fresher air and prettier flowers and while getting away is okay, (especially if you have a good reason to do it as I wouldn’t encourage anyone to stay in a truly dangerous situation) – but when you want to leave because you’re trying to get out of a non-threatening problem or the friends that you hung out with and entertained now don’t want to have anything to do with you – you should rethink the bags you have packed at the door.Most trials should be faced head-on; while others may require you to leave – especially if it has something to do with you living or dying. But for every other minor thing – here are some quick tips to help you face your bull and unpack your bags:

1. Pray – the bible says in “ALL” your ways acknowledge him and he will direct our paths. (Prov. 3:6) A lot of times we pray “after” a situation has totally diminished us, but if you “pray” before – you’re giving God full control of not only your life but every situation that you are presented with, in which if we carefully listen to his voice as we should, then most of our “packed bag” ordeals will not exist. (Unless he tells you to do so)
2. Seriously think about the reason you want to jump ship, it may not be as complicated as your mind is telling you it is.
3. If you’re leaving because of a friend or significant other – those individuals given the circumstances can be changed; a true friend will be willing to talk things out with you no matter how they may feel about you, even though right now the both of you have different opinions or are at the point of cutting each other loose, this works the same with a significant other – if the relationship is worth it, you’ll talk it out – if not, then let them go; you’ll be better off and not only that, you’ll have room for the “real” person to now come into your life.
4. Talk to someone you can trust – sometimes talking things out and hearing yourself speak is better than packing a bag to ship out.

While we didn’t entertain the family members request to leave, mostly because we knew that they were only wanting to pack a bag due to the fact that they had gotten themselves entangled into a mighty web and was looking for the first door out; usually when you bring someone into your atmosphere whom are running away from a problem; that problem end up finding itself right on your doorstep with its own packed bag to ruin your peaceful environment. I’m not saying don’t take anyone in; but just make sure that the bags that they packed are meant to be packed for a visit and/or a special circumstance that maybe they can’t help or is life threatening if they don’t leave.

I came to learn that while leaving had become oh so familiar to me and I would do it at the drop of a pin, staying and fighting through life’s rough patches was well worth me unpacking those bags; I not only matured in the process, but now I realize that we can change a situation right where we are – it just may take you not leaving; but changing your environment and the choices you made right where you are. You have the power to say what it is you want and what you don’t want to take place in your life – No packed bags required!