The fact of the matter is, we can all become addicted to the complicated busy ways of life, but Jesus is all about something entirely different.  Embracing simplicity is the invitation of God to step into his presence and experience the fullness of shalom.

 

Are you tired of feeling tired and weary?

 

Yeah, me too.  It is particularly acute during this time of the year.  After coming through a season where the holidays pile on top of each other, it’s hard not to feel a little lost. Six weeks of over the top busy are more than enough time to establish a new normal, so when the new year rolls in and activities thin out, the temptation to just fill it all up again is great.

 

It’s complicated, right?

 

Here’s the thing, we don’t have to settle for anything less than what Jesus has promised.  It really is ours for the taking, but we do have to learn to not self-sabotage.  Jesus will lead us out of the bogged down, cluttered places of desolation, but we have to be willing to follow him into that place of shalom.  It requires cutting away from the addictive rhythms that dictate our lives, and as challenging as that can be, there is sweet restorative peace waiting to be enjoyed.

 

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.  I’ll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.  Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”  Matthew 11:28-30, The Message

 

Embracing simplicity opens the way…

 

My Dad always used to say, “Your stuff will own you.”

 

I can still hear him, matter-of-fact and resolute.  It always bothered me, because it was usually in response to wanting to purchase something.  I always teased him, calling him a “the bucket of cold water!” which he took it all in stride with a strange sort of pride, because he knew something I hadn’t figured out yet.

 

I find myself going back to that five-word phrase, finding comfort and peace in the reality of its simple profound truth. There is nothing wrong with owning nice things and participating in new opportunities, but when the acclimation of stuff, attention, and self-importance become the central purposes of life, is it any wonder peace is nowhere in sight?

 

Embracing simplicity certainly has its extremes, but I don’t know that it is a one-size-fits-all kind of thing.  I’m convinced that solution to the issue of unrest in the soul, is to lean into the unforced rhythms of grace; to relearn healthy rhythms that support a holistic life.  Minimalism and vows of poverty certainly create a simple way of living, but this is not necessarily what is required to practice this discipline.

 

Confusion and disorder lead to unrest in the soul.  We may not like the sound of that because of the implications, but our angst doesn’t change the truth.  Our pursuit of wholeness is not elusive, it just requires discipline and healing.

 

Embracing simplicity is a practice that helps trim away anything that is not essential in order to create the space needed to pursue what’s most important.  It opens the way for more than we can imagine, but that freedom and abundance can only be accessed when we cut down the idols that clog us up.

 

 

 

 

 

The discipline of Simplicity

 

“Simplicity creates margins and spaces and openness in our lives. It honors the resources of our small planet.  It offers us the leisure of tasting the present moment.  Simplicity asks us to let go of the tangle of wants so we can receive the simple gifts of life that cannot be taken away. Sleeping, eating, walking, giving and receiving love, the benefits we take for granted, are amazing gifts.  Simplicity invites us into these daily pleasures that can open us to God, who is present in them all.”  ¹

 

I don’t know about you, but I long for that; for a rhythm of life that gives me space to see and hear the voice of God in all the everyday simple moments of life.  We are taught as followers of Christ, that God is omnipresent, meaning He is everywhere, yet still we wander looking for evidence of his handiwork in our lives.

 

Embracing simplicity for me has become about re-evaluating what is necessary and important in the grand scheme of life.  While I wouldn’t say I have a minimalist lifestyle, I do value a simpler way.

 

A number of years ago, my husband did a sermon series on our denominational core values, one of which is living simply.  I don’t remember his points, but I remember recognizing that my life was undisciplined and clogged up.

 

The invitation to create margin set me on a journey learning new rhythms, setting boundaries, and creating new modes of evaluation in order to hear the Spirit’s voice of discernment.  Truthfully, I haven’t arrived—I’m still learning as He peels back layers through revelation and grace showing me where I still need to clear away the clutter.

 

 

How embracing simplicity affects everything

 

I don’t know about you, but I always find it easier to organize my process, because a systematic form helps with overall management.  Rigid rules stifle my creativity, but having a loose structure to follow makes me feel safe.  Embracing simplicity will require a little organization—not in resolute fashion, but in way of categorizing ideas and habits.

 

We can practice the habits of simplicity in thought life, emotions, activities we pursue, and material possessions.  All of these areas of life affect the wellness of our soul, so it only stands to reason that we need to consider what area needs some care.

 

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-29

 

Jesus clearly tells us that our heart will serve our treasure—whatever it is. Man, that’s a sobering thought, isn’t it?  When I begin to process the way I think, what do, the things I have according to the lens of Jesus, I begin to see a different way that is much more appealing than the way of the world.

 

Embracing simplicity gives space to pursue what really matters; to pursue intimacy with the Father. This is what it means to lay up treasures in heaven. The habits of simplicity help us to cut down the idols of attachment in all areas of our lives. Ultimately simplicity helps us embrace our identity and purpose as sons and daughters of God as we find satisfaction and completeness through Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

 

 

 

Embracing Simplicity: 10 habits that cultivate wholeness

 

I’ve put together a list of habits that are helpful in our pursuit of cultivating wholeness.  Embracing simplicity needs to more than a verbal agreement, it needs to be applied and rehearsed—over and over and over again.  The more we do it, the easier it gets.

 

Allow for more white space.

This is just another way of saying take time for rest.  Create regular intervals and give your body, your mind, and your heart a chance to rest.  This can be applied to blocking space in your agenda or tidying your physical space to allow for better concentration. The eyes need a break just as much as your physical body does.

 

Write it down.

Create a system and place to empty your mind of all the details for tasks, commitments, goals, and responsibilities.  Trying to keep it all straight in the mind is a recipe for disaster.  I have an agenda where I jot down my list of things to do (where it can be contained) and then I have a page called “Brain Dump” where I joy down whatever ideas are floating around so I don’t lose them.  Once it’s written down, I know where to look for the information I need instead of racking my brain to remember.

 

Clean up the clutter.

If we can’t manage our stuff then it is managing us.  It’s difficult and frustrating when we have to deal with clutter piles before we can get to the task of cleaning. Putting things away allows us to steward well what we have been given.  It gives us space to appreciate the blessing and the giver of all good things.

 

Give yourself the gift of silence.

Our minds need to be cleared out too.  All the background noise, physical clutter, and internal self-talk can wear us out.  Practicing silence, even for just a few minutes gives the soul a chance to refresh.  Turn the TV and Radios off, be still, and just breathe.  It’s amazing how this regular practice opens the way to peace.

 

 

 

 

Do a deep clean.

Say what you want about Marie Kondo’s systems of organization, but you know what?  She’s not wrong.  The one with the most toys does not win, because the more you have, the more there is to manage.  Think about it.  What are you holding onto and why?  Are the things you can let go of and release?

 

Limit your options.

I believe that indecisiveness is an issue of too many options; too many options create paralysis. A great example is in mean preparation.  Instead of basing meal prep on what you feel like in the moment, base it on what you have.  Take it another whole step forward and base all your meal preparation on what’s on sale, what’s in season, and what commitments you have.  You’ll save time and money and probably a whole lot of waste.

 

Speak simple truth.

This practice asks God to help us chose clear speech that commutates clearly with no hidden meanings or half-truths.  Passive-aggressive behavior is manipulative and toxic, so why do we want to be about that?

 

“Just say a simple,’Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.” Matthew 5:37

 

Walk or streamline your trips in the car.

Walking is a great way to clear your mind and work out the inner tension that builds up, but it also saves fuel costs, which creates a domino effect in the area of stewardship all the way through.  When you have to drive, plan to do all your running at once creating more space with less wasted time.

 

Give it away.

If someone admires something of yours, consider gifting them with it. Letting it go makes room for faith to trust God, for generosity, for contentment, and it will reveal just how attached you are to your things. This is by no means an easy process, but it’s important nevertheless.  Cutting off the idolatry of materialism can’t be accomplished by selling our stuff, because all that really does is exchange one idol for another.

 

Practice giving no excuses, apologies, or spontaneous yeses.

This helps us to be honest and real, taking ownership of our lives without pretense or embellishment.  It means thinking before we speak and commit to activities we don’t like or have time for.  A habit of apologizing and making excuses actually create a culture of dishonor, for both ourselves and the people around us.  Embracing simplicity in this manner creates a beautiful sense of life-giving freedom and honor.

 

 

 

 

Embracing Simplicity

 

One final note, embracing simplicity is not a sprint!  Be kind to yourself as you press in.  Remember that all of this is the discipline that responds to the invitation of Daddy-God to come and know him more.

 

This is definitely not an exhaustive list of practices, but it’s a good place to start. Do you have habits of simplicity that you practice regularly?  I’d love to hear about your ideas too—just drop them in the comment section.

 

If you are interested in more on the topic of simplicity, here are a couple of blog posts you might like to read!

Re-Setting the rhythms that support wholeness

Why margin matters | Exchanging the crazy life for God’s best!

 

1. Calhoun Ahlberg, Adele. Spiritual Disiplines Handbood Practicies that transform us, Downers Grove, Il, Intervasity Press, p. 75