Simplicity

I was thinking about the aspect of our vow that embraces "simplicity." I was wondering how in the world we tangibly embrace that value... I'm self-aware enough that I see glimpses of systemic behaviors in me about clothing, gadgets, and general stuff, along with my penchant to toss things before they are broken (yikes!). And I am shocked at the statistic that the USA contains 5% of the population while we consume about 23-26% of the world's energy in goods and services--obviously something is wrong systemically.

Another way in which I am addressing the issue of simplicity is in the area of my work. I am a classic perfectionist, where is to say that everything has to be the best it can be before I want anyone to see/experience it.

My penchant reminds me of the story of Mary and Martha, where Martha appears to be upset that preparations are less than they should be when Jesus comes by for lunch. She asks Jesus to ask Mary to help. Jesus replies, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed-or indeed only one." In one reading of this text Jesus is saying: "Martha, stop with trying to pull off a gourmet dinner...just get something simple...maybe just some PB&Js...There is something more going on here than what YOU come up with, which Mary has picked up on."

This speaks of a simplicity that is unafraid of judgment when it comes to work output. Sometimes absolute excellence is required; other times simply button-up PB&Js are great and we should throw them out there.

On Faith & Work

Over the years I have caught myself trying to use my faith to find an easy way around hard work. The older I get the more I am convinced that faith leads me to be persevering more than it helps me skip or avoid hard, difficult places. I thought faith would preempt things like diabetes and it was a wake up call when it showed up in my body--then I found myself being led, not to pray for healing, but to pray for the resolve to do what I needed to do in order to get it under control (hard).

I think this is true in relationships/work/career decisions/et.al. Faith empowers us to handle hard more than it eliminates it. Texts like this one in Ecclesiastes 11:6 illustrate this point: "In the morning sow your seed, and at evening do not let your hands be idle; for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good." Faith keeps you moving, trusting God will evidence fruit, it does not protect you from unnecessary work by showing you where the harvest is first.