Practicing Simplicity
I’m near the end of what has been like a whirlwind of activities and deadlines, with a sense that the practice of simplicity that our canvas group (mid-sized group) is engaging with this month comes at a great time for me.
I was reading this quote by Evelyn Underhill that has inspired my chosen practices of simplicity for this month. She says, “We mostly spend lives conjugating three verbs: to want, to have, and to do. Craving, clutching, and fussing… we are kept in perpetual unrest.”
As I have been pondering these words I’m drawn to the idea that simplicity is about valuing less in a culture that values more, and would love to experience the truth that less is more. In light of this, I sense God would have me practice simplicity in these three ways:
1. In regard to my wants: Eat less. Less meat, less deserts, less expensively.
2. In regard to my have’s: Look through my apartment on what I could give away to charity.
3. In regard to my do’s: Simplify my schedule.
What ways to you practice simplicity in your life? Have you found it a valuable practice? Have you found that less is more?
Hi jr,
great quote.
I don’t know yet if less is more..but i try to live my day like it could be my last,I try to not get to attached to materials and like to be able to share with others what i have,if my wants tend to turn into an ‘obsession’ i practised to look at what has my first priority and what became a special need for this time.I
Sonja
Part of what makes less more is the sense of enjoyment we receive out of something. A small child makes eating an intense experience. He will touch the food; poke it, squish it, pat it, squeeze it through his fingers. And not once, but with every bite. The food will slowly be put in the mouth and around the mouth, down the chin onto his front. He will smack his lips, gurgle, slurp, and spooge. Eating is glorious fun as well as fulfilling. And afterward, with a full tummy, he takes a nap.
As adults, we tend to ignore the food we eat, reading something or talking to someone during the process. It doesn’t really matter if the dish is a gourmet piece of art work or some processed imitation food spread made to feed the masses. Then we are surprised to find that we are full, or rather stuffed since we weren’t listening to our bodily messages while we were eating. And instead of savoring the satisfaction, we rush off to get something accomplished.
Part of worship is entering into the experience with our whole hearts; tasting the sourness, cringing with the bitterness, panting with the spiciness, and savoring the sweetness. True thankfulness comes when we relish the satisfaction. Simplicity is necessary if we are going to have time to experience every gift of life as an act of worship to the giver of every good thing.
Sonja,
I think it is so great to live each day as if it could be our last, wise advice.
Maria,
You have a wonderful way with words thanks for sharing your wisdom. It’s great!
I know this isn’t quite the same thing, but when I think of living simply, one thing that I find very important in my own life is being careful to take a meaningful sabbath–or time of rest and reflection.
I heard a message by Tim Keller titled “Work and Rest” (I think) and he mentioned the need for us to stop and truly value the things God has blessed us with. As I seek to live simply, I find it is so important for me to appreciate and be thankful for the things I DO have and the things I AM able to accomplish. As I am thankful for what God has blessed me with, it frees me to be satisfied and not always we wanting more and/or seeking the next big thing.
That being said, I’m still very far from having the simple life thing figured out–these thoughts are just a small thing I think I’ve discovered in the process.
Thanks for your writing and thoughts. I’m a new reader, but have really enjoyed them so far.
As a temporary member of The Order of Mission (www.missionorder.org) one of my vows is to grow in the pracice of simplicity. As Ixve sought God on what this means for myself and my family I have sensed him saying “do less and do it for Me”. My experience of living this out in the past 5 months has been a less stressed and more focused lifestyle and pace of life – doesn’t always make life simple though! i find myself having to say NO more. People dont often understand this and can see it as unwillingness to serve. I believe a call to simplicity is interwoven with a call to obey the voice of God the Father.
Blessings.
Stuart,
Thanks for those thoughts brother. It seems Jesus had to leave certain towns without “healing everyone” thus having to say no because he was listening to his Fathers voice. I agree we should live for an audience of one.
I like this!!! I think I tend towards being simple in my life as it is but I want to excell still more…less desserts would be real real good for me…esp chocolate…I have 5 older brothers & sisters who made it easy to not follow & yet learn from their life mistakes as far as stuff and how much it means to them…I have small closets here and I love saying if my hang up clothes don’t fit in this 3 foot wide closet then I don’t need them…and that’s with winter & summer clothes Borrowing books or the library ones might help with that area…Yep I think less is more….less spices in my food means more flavor….less words with more listening means better quality conversing for most people I meet…maybe that would be a less”i” rather than “words”…less stuff means more time…it takes time to maintain stuff..in my neighborhood alot of the hubbies have not bought stuff because they know they can borrow them from me & other neighbors…2 of us are know as the snow blower people…we clean the sidewalks each day for the 20 neighbors…Leon has the HUGE grill..Pete has the ladders…alot of ladders…Vicki & Andrel have the trampoline…and we all share power tools…why do we all need to have everything?? When someone else has the thing you think you need maybe you can bless them by asking to borrow it or use it with them…God can then bless them…The only things I have found not necessarily “less is more” is knowledge and love…perhaps it can be overwhelming to people but I love to shower people with love…I never know what I do will touch them so I love alot & in various ways…I surpose knowledge can make me big headed but I love learning