One thing you’ve probably discovered about me is that words and the origins of words fascinate me. In particular, I can use an everyday phrase or word and suddenly wonder about it. Take the other day, for example, I was putting a suitcase into my boot and it prompted a realisation that I had no idea of the difference between luggage and baggage or even if there is one. You’re probably now thinking that’s a little weird but, hey, it’s the bag I’m into – if you’ll pardon the pun!
So is there a difference? My initial thought was that it maybe had to do with size. The words themselves suggest that luggage could be something you lug and baggage might be smaller and lighter. Turns out the opposite is true. Strictly speaking, in the UK there isn’t much difference now between the two. We use the two words interchangeably. In America, though, the difference in meaning remains and here it is.
Luggage is what you carry – in its empty form – whether that be a suitcase, holdall, trunk etc. Baggage is what you put inside the luggage or it can be used of the combination of the two, ‘filled luggage’. Thus, baggage ironically involves a lot more lugging than luggage.
As an aside, if anyone is thinking that one or other of those words has a military origin because, well, so many words do, then you’re right. One of the earliest recorded uses of the word ‘baggage’, in medieval times, is for all those portable things carried around by an army whether that be weaponry, equipment, plunder etc. etc.
The Apostle Paul spoke about our bodies as jars of clay which I guess could be interpreted as an ancient world form of luggage. He said that the treasure we have is contained within us, within our baggage you might say. You may have noticed the words ‘Part 1’ in the title of this thought and that’s because at a future date we’ll go on to consider the human baggage that we carry.
For now, though, we’re going to finish by reflecting that today is Pentecost Sunday. Today, we remember that God pours his Holy Spirit into our hearts and lives. That has a lot to do with the treasure within us. The Holy Spirit is light for our darkness; a guide for our journey; and a power source more than adequate for our needs. The Holy Spirit both points to the hope of eternal life within us and is evidence for that hope. And God’s Holy Spirit, working alongside that which is already in us humanly speaking, turns us into the people God made us to be.
Do you know the Holy Spirit filling your life? Or are you afraid to open yourself up fully? Am I talking about something you’ve never thought about before? Whatever your answer to those questions please know that God’s Spirit is not exclusive or held back. The Holy Spirit is given to every Christian without exception. May our prayer today be for an infilling; that there may be more and more of God’s Spirit within us; that our own, human baggage, may become less and less important; and that our transformed lives may reflect the truth of an old hymn:
Jesus take me as I am
I can come no other way
Take me deeper into You
Make my flesh life melt away
Make me like a precious stone
Crystal clear and finely honed
Life of Jesus shining through
Giving glory back to You.