SIMPLICITY
I am reading again a book called "Joshua," by Joseph Girzone. Powerful book. It's about what it would be like if Jesus came back and lived among us today. One of the most remarkable things about Joshua is how simply he lives. He works just enough at woodworking to make enough money to eat, pay the rent, and buy more wood. He dresses simply. He is always available for unannounced visitors. His perspective on life, faith, and politics is simple and clear, yet revolutionary to our ears. His life and words are so attractive.
Reading this book now, some 5 or 6 years after I first read it, is giving me a clearer visual image of who Jesus is, and even how he sees me. He is so compassionate, joyful, patient, loving, and at ease, yet he is also passionate, purposeful, disciplined, determined to do what he must, and committed to doing and saying the right thing, no matter the cost. Who would not want to follow someone like this?
I was thinking this morning that I wish I could go back and reorder much of my life. Life defaults into busyness, clutter, and thoughtlessness. I long to go back and re-think some of my past decisions. I have no regrets whatsoever about my family decisions -- I married way over my head and my two little ones are supreme joys. Yet, I do despise the lack of simplicity in my life. Should we have bought the house five years ago? It is a joyful place of hospitality and warmth, but it that worth the mortgage? I guess rent would cost about as much, though, so it may not have been unwise. Do we really need two cars, cable TV, two cell phones and a home phone? Do we really need every family on our street to have their own lawnmower, edger, ladder, weedeater, leaf blower, and spreader? Man, we are a consumer society, rapidly becoming a consumer race.
The net effect of all this is that we max out all of our time, money, and attention focusing on what we have. We have no time left for quiet, solitude, relationship beyond the four walls of the house (or even church), planning for the future, praying for others, walking with Jesus. With simplicity comes focus, peace, rejuvenation, richness, joy, rest, and intimacy. Without simplicity, we truly have none of this. Lord, teach me to simplify this life.
I am reading again a book called "Joshua," by Joseph Girzone. Powerful book. It's about what it would be like if Jesus came back and lived among us today. One of the most remarkable things about Joshua is how simply he lives. He works just enough at woodworking to make enough money to eat, pay the rent, and buy more wood. He dresses simply. He is always available for unannounced visitors. His perspective on life, faith, and politics is simple and clear, yet revolutionary to our ears. His life and words are so attractive.
Reading this book now, some 5 or 6 years after I first read it, is giving me a clearer visual image of who Jesus is, and even how he sees me. He is so compassionate, joyful, patient, loving, and at ease, yet he is also passionate, purposeful, disciplined, determined to do what he must, and committed to doing and saying the right thing, no matter the cost. Who would not want to follow someone like this?
I was thinking this morning that I wish I could go back and reorder much of my life. Life defaults into busyness, clutter, and thoughtlessness. I long to go back and re-think some of my past decisions. I have no regrets whatsoever about my family decisions -- I married way over my head and my two little ones are supreme joys. Yet, I do despise the lack of simplicity in my life. Should we have bought the house five years ago? It is a joyful place of hospitality and warmth, but it that worth the mortgage? I guess rent would cost about as much, though, so it may not have been unwise. Do we really need two cars, cable TV, two cell phones and a home phone? Do we really need every family on our street to have their own lawnmower, edger, ladder, weedeater, leaf blower, and spreader? Man, we are a consumer society, rapidly becoming a consumer race.
The net effect of all this is that we max out all of our time, money, and attention focusing on what we have. We have no time left for quiet, solitude, relationship beyond the four walls of the house (or even church), planning for the future, praying for others, walking with Jesus. With simplicity comes focus, peace, rejuvenation, richness, joy, rest, and intimacy. Without simplicity, we truly have none of this. Lord, teach me to simplify this life.
posted by Lane | 11:40 AM
3 Comments:
I borrowed Joshua from my grandmother a year ago and loved reading it. It really was encouraging to see how simple and purposeful all of his life was. The idea of stripping life down to the importants and doing those well seems so relaxing. And from that place Joshua took joy in all he did, from carpentry to meeting with unannounced guests. Thanks for reminding me of how much I loved that book.
thanks for loaning it to me. it really affected me.
simplicity is such a great gift and affects everything. it makes life *lighter*, like i think it was meant to be.
thanks for letting god have his way with you, friend. even if your external life does not always seem as simple as it could be, your internal life is simple, and well-ordered, i think. and that is a blessing.
re:simplicity-- i do, i do have those same thoughts and struggle to live simply. when i traveled in europe, it really allowed me to be free like that. i came back, disgusted with how much i have. it's all clutter.
in fact, i didn't marry a man bc we were so opposite on this whole lifestyle. i wanted less. he wanted more.
and then i revisited that very life of simplicity by living "homeless" for 7 mths... couch surfing... and by god's blessing, house sitting... it was refreshing to have one suitcase...and that's all.
this a much longer conversation. so i'll stop now.
Post a Comment
<< Home