Has an airline ever “lost” your luggage? As many miles as I have traversed over the years, I’m truly astonished that although my luggage has chosen to arrive on different flights, ergo, with different arrival times, the airlines eventually reconnected me with my precious possessions. A few of these disconnections between passenger and luggage are of my own doing, as I am notorious for volunteering my seat on overbooked flights in order to benefit from future travel vouchers. Therefore, I have been known to wear the same outfit for a few days because the airlines repeatedly asked, so I repeatedly volunteered. Although I had essentials in my backpack, I don’t make it an ordinary practice to carry an entire ensemble, for it seems when I am prepared to sacrifice my seat, the odds diminish that I will walk away with the travel funds for my next big adventure.

Early in my traveling days, I recall people discussing this unusual place in Scottsboro, Alabama, where shoppers perused the shelves of items from Unclaimed Baggage. With intentions to visit this location that never became a reality, I admit to a Burning Curiosity about belongings with which people were willing to just say goodbye, choosing not to be reunited with the luggage, and using the replacement claim from the airlines to move forward with their life. Admittingly, sometimes I hesitate before placing favored items in my luggage because the thought does cross my mind that it might become lost—to become a part of the 0.03% statistic of all checked luggage that becomes Unclaimed.

This entire train of thought relating to Unclaimed Baggage arose as I shared with a friend my frustration after a recent attempt to, once again, venture into the disheartening journey of putting myself out there in the online dating world. Her immediate reaction to this man’s hurtful words were a salve to my bruised heart, “Yeah, he’s got unpacked baggage!” And maybe that is indeed his situation, perhaps he has old stuff sitting in the corner that stares up at him and takes up space, but I wanted to justify my actions. The reason I didn’t reply to his message for two days was because I was busy in meetings and taking care of broken things around the house, but because he doesn’t know me personally, he accused me of being rude and strange. Perhaps, I did unintentionally ghost him but this one simple message from a stranger about my responsiveness sent the tears flowing in this Struggle With Singleness.

Whether this man has Unclaimed Baggage he needs to deal with or not, it is out of my power, but I do have control over my response and my immense gratitude for not only the Tuesday People in my life, but a supportive and encouraging faith community at work, and even an author I do not know personally. My Savior provides for me in a timely and supernatural way. He reminds me that perhaps in a vulnerable moment of loneliness, I made a decision to download the app and compose a profile because I was seeking a distraction, not seeking Him. In his book Undistracted, Bob Goff shares, “I think evil wants to distract us from expressing our gifts and doing what we are meant to do. Darkness is rarely content to wound us with one decisive blow when it can injure us equally with a thousand paper cuts.” This hurtful message from a man I do not know was a papercut in the Struggle With Singleness, yet I cannot control the issues that others need to deal with, nor can I let the enemy distract me from what He has called me to do.

Just the day before, I had been excited and encouraged in transitioning to a new role at my university, writing an extensive list of thoughts and ideas, imagining what new opportunities God might have on the horizon, not just for me, but the thrill of walking side-by-side with others, especially Emerging Adults, as they discover the life God has designed for them. So, today, perhaps I too have Unclaimed Baggage that needs to be unpacked and dealt with, but the truth is, I’m fairly confident that online dating is just a distraction for me and “distractions will lose their power over us…and we should “cultivate a caring community who won’t shake their heads in disapproval when we mess up. Instead, they will remind us of our purpose and potential.”

If you don’t have a Posse that reminds you of your God-given purpose and potential, find one immediately! But be sure that they are authentic people who truly know and love you– not what you commonly find in an online community. Be extremely grateful if you do uncover those rare finds of true friendship online but beware that many people are extremely adept at hiding their Unclaimed Baggage and providing a very false digital version of themselves. My romantic side, which typically stays hidden, was encouraged by witnessing long-married couples Holding Hands on a recent trip; however, I have to remember that my journey will look different from theirs and that I should not become distracted from the path God currently has me on, even if that happens to be remaining single.

References:

Goff, B. (2022). Undistracted: Capture your purpose, rediscover your joy. Thomas Nelson.

Unclaimed Baggage Center. (2022). How it works. Retrieved from https://www.unclaimedbaggage.com/pages/how-it-works