What is a simple life? Is it minimal possessions? Lots of available time?
A blue collar job? Quietude? Country life?
“Wisdom to live a simple, forgiving, Jesus-centered life” is a summary of my goals for Never Give Up.
What is simplicity? Maybe a simple life doesn’t push beyond our abilities? If that’s an adequate definition, a situation that seems overwhelming to one may be simple to another, since we vary in our capacities.
We want to leave room for the Holy Spirit’s empowerment, yes. And we want to stretch where he asks us and gives us the the ability to. Sometimes for a lifetime, sometimes for a season. And yet, we have been given various limitations.
For those who are terrific mothers, several children may be well within their abilities. Others may feel overwhelmed with one.
If our emotional resources are low, we might not take on leading the congregation’s food pantry that serves 200 people every month. A simple choice may mean contributing $50 a month.
If we gain energy from solitude, we may find chairing the evangelism task force isn’t the simple choice. Simplicity may mean writing a tract.
Simplicity may mean staying in our starter house, as we have. That’s a choice that fit our family and that has laid a foundation for financial simplicity and freedom.
Our abilities likely will change through the course of our lives. And step one, not to be taken for granted, is knowing and accepting our limitations.
Given all that, perhaps simplicity is living within those limitations for the purpose of peacefulness. Though God might ask us to stretch ourselves at some times and seasons. Simple living may turn out to be complicated.
Thoughts?
Hi Karen,
Thanks! Great thoughts. And I wonder: what drives us to un-simple lives in the first place? Yes, as you say, GOD sometimes stretches us, but why do we always reach for more than we have? Somehow, somewhere, I think we are dissatisfied with God, and "looking for love in all the wrong places."
I really love what Jesus said to Martha: "One thing is needed. Mary has chosen the better portion."
Love this. I think it is safe to say I live a simple life, both by choice in some areas and necessity in others. God is good.