Celebrating SimplicitySýnishorn

Living Simply In a Complicated World

Maybe a spiritual discipline (or holy habit) called “simplicity” conjures up romantic images of earlier eras or fantasies of simpler times that we sigh about but feel we can never regain. Let me encourage you: the discipline of simplicity can be practiced at any economic level because it is first of all an inner attitude toward possessions.

Sometimes people who have very little economic wealth are obsessed with acquiring more. And the reverse can also be true: people with a lot of wealth can fully engage in the discipline of simplicity if they hold that wealth lightly, as belonging first of all to God.

The discipline of simplicity also deals with the way we use our time and the way we use words. It is an overall attitude of contentment and gratitude manifested in a visible way of living that includes not trying to do too much or have too much. It is a way of speaking that lets our yes be yes and our no be no, as Jesus commands in the Sermon on the Mount (see Matthew 5:37).

Poverty in and of itself does not indicate a life of simplicity. Spending all of your time trying to keep body and soul together because of unemployment, or going from agency to agency for help tends to make for a complicated life.

In the discipline of simplicity, we seek to have adequate housing, clothing, food and transportation for the needs of the season of life we are currently in. If we can afford more than what we truly need, we give that extra money to help others. We also seek to have a balanced rhythm in terms of work, play and rest, and we strive to say what needs to be said simply and in a straightforward manner.

In short, through the discipline of simplicity we seek to live a life that is pleasing to God, life-giving to ourselves and has an element of availability to others. We can live a life of goodness, joy, peace and balance if we will engage honestly with this discipline.

From Spiritual Disciplines Devotional by Valerie E. Hess.