Wisdom in Simplicity
Our Creator knows what we need. Simply . . . Time with Him!
Monday of Holy Week ~ 4/3/2023
St. Francis speaks today of “Wisdom in Simplicity”. It has taken me decades to begin to understand this concept! I lived, like many my age, that the one who dies with the most ___(fill in the blank)___ wins! That your possessions, home, car, indicated the amount of success you had achieved. Well, I never really believed that, nor bought into the stuff=success equation, but, sadly the remnants of that life remain. Waaay tooo much stuff! Waaay tooo many things! But I am hopeful for beginnings!
There is an acronym that does help, K.I.S.S. ~ Keep It Simple Silly. I have found myself in a situation that has helped me to see what a burden it is to be surrounded by lots of stuff. There are many reasons for my accumulation of so many things, but I am now to the point where I understand I cannot possibly use it all in my remaining lifetime, even if I were to live to be 150 years old! I do not need it, nor do I even want much of it. I’m ready to be more realistic and more selective. So, now the process: sorting, and deciding, and purging . . . and the piles: the tossing, the gifting, and the keeping. It is quite a task to take care of or undue accumulation and clutter. Better to have kept it simple from the beginning? Well, that’s a longer treatment of this topic, and I want to keep this simple!
What am I kept from ‘doing’ or ‘being’ by having to tend to or worry about all this ‘stuff’? Ironically, there are many boxes of books in storage, that I accumulated during my recent academic studies, that I cannot even access, so use my very small, compact phone to look up what used to be stored on several bookshelves. This is just one example of what I have to deal with. Many things are taking up physical as well as mental space. I want my life simplified so I can focus on what is most important as I ease into my “wisdom years”!
St. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians tells them: “My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.” (I Corinthians 2:4-5) He attempted to keep it simple for them . . . his version of ‘actions speak louder than words’? Put your faith in God alone. Simple.
In Matthew’s Gospel, when the disciples asked Jesus, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.’” (Matthew 18:1-5) Welcome Jesus with a child-like faith. Simple.
So, next time you are tempted to shop for that ‘next thing’, ask yourself: Do I really NEED this? . . . Or, do I just want it? . . . Will this add clutter to my life, or simplify it?. . . What void am I trying to fill? Can Jesus fill that void for me?
When you find yourself considering adding one more activity or project to your already full schedule, ask yourself: How will this benefit me? . . . my relationship with God? . . . with my family/friends? . . . Will this add unnecessary stress or anxiety to my life? Will this add chaos to my life, or peace? What void might I be trying to fill? Can I use this time to grow closer to God?
Yesterday, I offered you a challenge to read the Passion narratives from each of the Gospels. There are only 6 days left until Easter/Resurrection Sunday. Even if you take time, sacrifice one activity, to choose just one of these readings, or even a portion of one, to ponder over, I think you will find it a very beneficial substitution.
During this Holy Week, I wish you a wisdom and simplicity that leads to Peace!