They came at lunch time. We had set the table with all our nice tea cups and saucers. We made three kinds of tea — lemon zinger, white pomegranate, and mint. All sweetened with raw local, honey. We drank tea and soothed our sniffles, while filling our bellies with a main dish of rice & bean bowls. And for dessert, chocolate chip cookies.

Thank you, Lord, for good friends, good fellowship and good food! You are very good to us.

What are your Simple Treasures?

I am among the folks who need the encouragement to simplify, because no matter if I want to or not, it is not in my nature. I do feel more peaceful and more settled when the space around me is clear, but I have to work hard to fight my desire to accumulate both things and messes. A case in point are the things I bring home from thrift stores. They are great deals, don’t get me wrong, but I must learn to say no to even those deals which clutter my life rather than fill a true household need.

To me, simplicity doesn’t mean a barren or uncomfortable existence. It means a peaceful existence. I know there are certain tools and gifts that the Lord has given me to help me do my job as wife, homemaker, cook and educator in a more peaceful, productive way. For example, I recently acquired access to high-speed Internet. This could be seen as a luxury, and indeed would be completely unnecessary if we couldn’t afford it. However, my access to it, sitting right here in my living room, keeps me informed, thoughtful, growing, and learning. This is much superior to having to go to the library or be constantly on the go. The hassle of being out of the house does not/did not simplify my life. Having good Internet access right here does.

What I want to point out by the previous example is that while living simply often includes shying away from acquiring material possessions and culling the possessions own already owns, it does not follow that a simple life is only about not owning things. In other words, one does not need to martyr oneself to hardship. One should feel the freedom, as gifted by God, to own or use certain tools that help with one’s work.

Jeff and I have not had a bed for many years and are now saving up for one. We desire to get better sleep. Another purchase we are making is a treadmill. With Jeff’s new job and increased responsibility and work hours, we will still be able to exercise and not have to be outside in the pitch dark or inclement weather anymore. A bed and a treadmill. These are things. We are buying them. Does this mean we are striving for a simple life? No.

On the other hand, we have a house-full of stuff, many things that we don’t use or need. These are things that get in the way of simplicity because they don’t help us. They take work to maintain and I personally feel a lack of mental clarity when my space is cluttered. These things are hindering simplicity because they sap time and energy that could be better spent resting in the Lord or with my family engaging in meaningful, enriching tasks and activities.

How do you actively pursue simplicity? What does “Simplify!” mean to you?