What Is Your Everyday Carry?
Are there items that you always carry with you everywhere you go? Things like small items that are always stuffed into your pockets, bag or purse that are used for common daily tasks or used in emergency situations? You never leave the house without them and if you forget them, you feel like you’re not fully prepared for the day.
Any time I leave my house I grab my North Face backpack. Inside my pack are my everyday carry (EDC) items that I might need for that day. Most days the backpack will contain my MacBook Pro laptop and its power supply, earbuds, my smartphone, archival pens, Moleskin notebook, band-aids, chapstick, facial tissue, contact cleaner and case, gum or mints, an extra pocket knife (I carry one in my pocket), small flashlight, water bottle and my Thin-line NIV Bible. Yes, I carry all that and more, but these are items that I usually need to be prepared for that day’s activities. This practice of carrying everyday needed items has a huge following on the Web with websites such as everyday-carry.com where photos are posted from people around the world featuring what they carry with them.
This morning when I got to work, I realized that I forgot to grab my pocket knife that is usually clipped to my pant’s side pocket. I felt a little at a loss, until I rememberd my backup pocket knife from my bag and stuck that in my pocket. Crisis averted! You may laugh but I think we all have those kinds of moments. What is that one item that if you forgot (not including car and house keys or your wallet or purse) would leave you feeling unprepared for the day?
I wonder what the everyday carry item(s) were for the disciples of Jesus Christ? I am reminded of the story of where He sent out the 12 disciples to preach the gospel message and to do many miraculous events. This was going to be an epic adventure! Surely, if I was one of the disciples, I would have all my needed gear with me for this journey, and if I forgot it, I’d have gone back to grab those missing items. But wait! Christ says, “Do not take along any gold, silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff” (Matthew 10:9-10; Luke 9:1-5).
What!? I can't take this and that and I can’t go get my (fill in the blank)?! But I’ll need that for this trip! We can’t bring any money! How are we going to get food or pay for a place to stay? I don’t think I could have easily gone on this trip with nothing except what I had on me at the time. What about you? Could you have done this?
If we continue reading Matthew 10:10, Christ finishes the sentence, “for the worker is worth his keep” and then He proceeds to give further instructions and a motivational pep talk that redirected their focus from what they could not bring to what they would be doing.
When you prepare to leave your home for the day, what is your most important everyday carry item? Is it something physical and tangible that you can hold onto and rely upon in time of need or crisis? Or is it following the example of Jesus Christ and trusting His Words that will become your everyday carry?
Course Content
Aaron Booth
Aaron Booth is the Internet Manager for the United Church of God, where he oversees the organization's web presence and digital initiatives. With more than 25 years of experience in the Internet and digital media industry, Aaron has witnessed the remarkable evolution of the web and is passionate about using technology to connect people with meaningful, life-changing content.
Aaron earned an Associate Degree in Business Administration from Ambassador University before continuing his education at Purdue University, where he studied Leisure Studies and Recreation Management. While at Purdue, he discovered a passion for web and multimedia development, launching a career that included work at Purdue University and several web and multimedia companies in Indianapolis. Following the dot-com downturn in the early 2000s, he relocated to the Cincinnati area and joined the United Church of God, where he continues to serve today.
Aaron enjoys finding innovative ways to use technology to make biblical content more accessible and engaging for audiences around the world. He is especially interested in exploring new digital platforms and creative approaches that help people discover and interact with God's Word.
Aaron and his wife, Dawn, have been married for 25 years. They have two adult children and a grandson. Outside of work, Aaron is an avid fly fisherman and serves as the volunteer lead mentor for the Cincinnati chapter of The Mayfly Project, a nonprofit that connects children in foster care with mentors through the healing and lifelong sport of fly fishing.
