Burdens and Loads

In our Sunday School class, we have been moving through Galatians. Yesterday morning, we had a discussion concerning the concept of burdens and loads. Our teacher informed us that the difference is seen more readily in the Greek, where we learn that a burden is something that would overwhelm one person, but a load is something an individual can–and should–handle on one’s own.

The ensuing conversation headed in a direction that surprised even our instructor. I will summarize by saying that we discussed the idea that a load can become a burden when left undone for an extended period of time. A complimentary idea is that a load is singular, and an attempt to carry load upon load upon load can result in a life that qualifies as a burden.

I have wittnessed examples of this firsthand, though never thought through it in the Greek terminology of “load” and “burden.” An example given in class was that it is a man’s load to take responsibility for protecting his eyes from sights that will incite lust, but when that load is neglected, especially for extended periods of time, it can result in the burden of a pornographic habit.

I have seen a woman refuse to clean her house day after day, week after week, month after month, until the daily load of keeping things tidy and clean became a burden requiring a small army of people to work long, hard hours in a polluted and infectious environment.

And I have seen {and been!} the “yes-woman,” who loves to serve, but says “yes” to so many little loads that carrying one’s own primary service load of homemaking and hospitality becomes an overwhelming burden. Even the secular culture is beginning to combat the spreading-oneself-thin that has become an epidemic. An entire magazine is dedicated to Real Simple living.

I find myself wanting to explore this idea that neglect and irresponsibility create burden…so I think I find myself with a theme for the week…