Traveling Light, Literally

Today I read Matthew 10, where Jesus sends out the twelve disciples with some unusual instructions. One part caught my attention: they are told not to take money, a traveler's bag, or even a change of clothes. Instead, they are to rely on the hospitality of those they meet along the way (Matthew 10:9-10, NLT).

Packing Tips: None

This makes me wonder about the role of preparation versus trust. In most areas of life, we’re encouraged to plan carefully. We pack extra supplies, budget for emergencies, and try to control as many variables as possible. But here, the instruction is the opposite: go out with almost nothing, and depend on what others will provide. It seems both impractical and vulnerable.

I imagine what that would feel like—stepping into unfamiliar towns without knowing where I’d sleep or what I’d eat. There’s a certain loss of control in that scenario. It’s one thing to rely on a well-stocked backpack or a credit card, and another to rely entirely on the kindness of strangers. For the disciples, this approach might have forced them into genuine human connection. To survive, they had to accept meals, beds, and conversation from people they had just met.

The Freedom of Less

It also raises the question of simplicity. By traveling light, the disciples avoided being weighed down by possessions. Their focus was narrowed to the work at hand. Today, I think about how often my own preparations can become distractions. Sometimes the effort to cover every possible outcome leads to overpacking—literally and metaphorically.

Yet, this passage doesn’t necessarily suggest that everyone should abandon planning altogether. Instead, it highlights a tension between independence and dependence, control and openness. There’s something thought-provoking in the idea that stripping away our safety nets might reveal how much we lean on them. It exposes just how uncomfortable it is to need help—and how meaningful it can be to receive it.

Reading Matthew 10 leaves me reflecting on the balance between readiness and trust, possession and simplicity, self-reliance and community. Perhaps the real challenge is not in traveling without a bag or spare tunic, but in learning how to live with a little less certainty.