Posts Tagged: simplicity
“Living Lightly with God”
I am not good at living lightly. No matter what the situation, my philosophy is often summed up by the following proverb: “Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.” While this proverb—like most proverbs—serves me well occasionally, it often creates more problems than it solves. I tend to pack too many things for vacations and keep too many throw-away bottles because “we might them, and I want to keep them out of landfills.” I also keep broken equipment, thinking that I will eventually get around to fixing said equipment. Of course, I rarely do. I don’t think I’m a hoarder, but I am for sure on the cusp of becoming one.
God is continually reminding me that my life needs to be simpler. The reason he needs to remind me so often is that I am continually forgetting God’s call to simplicity. But, am I forgetting or willfully ignoring? I think I know the answer, and I don’t like it.
Sometimes, it is helpful for me to think in terms of the big picture. I didn’t have anything or any freedom when I entered this life. I didn’t even come with a diaper. And when I die, I won’t have anything, including one more breath or heartbeat. Meanwhile, everything that I “have” is on loan.
“You are sojourners with me.” (Leviticus 25:23.) God is speaking to Israel just before they entered the Promised Land. Israel didn’t own the land. God did. And they were living there as resident aliens.
There’s a song by 38 Special called “Hold on loosely.” The chorus is pretty simple, but also very powerful: “Hold on loosely, but don’t let go. If you cling too tightly, you’re gonna lose control.”
May I, may we all, hold on loosely today.
“Downwardly Mobile”
If I were a Roman Catholic, and if I were graced to be part of a (non?)monastic order, I think I would like to be a Franciscan. (Trappist would be a better bet for crucifying my crazy talkative tongue, but I wouldn’t last ten minutes as a Trappist.)
The reason I think I would like to be a Franciscan is that Saint Francis was so downwardly mobile.
Francis (for some reason, “Francis” sounds better than “Saint Francis” to me) was the son of a wealthy merchant. He was part of what we would call these days “the upper middle class.”
However, Francis voluntarily embraced poverty and simplicity. More importantly, Francis embraced people who were poor and simple. Francis married poverty and simplicity because he believed that this was what Jesus had both done and taught.
I, however, try to find ways around the much-too-clear implications of Jesus’ life and teachings. Of course, Jesus didn’t mean financial poverty. No! He meant spiritual poverty. Of course, there is a certain amount of discomfort with my line of reasoning in this regard—or is it a line of bologna? However, my discomfort can always be quelled by something more. (Since I just mentioned bologna, I suddenly remember that we actually have some bologna. I think I’ll go downstairs and have a sandwich!)
However, at the center of the Christian faith is a God who was downwardly mobile. Philippians 2:6-11 is a wonderful pre-Franciscan poem, either written by Paul or quoted by him.
“6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,
8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
It would make me feel better to end with that quote. Unfortunately, the words before and after this poem are words addressed to the church in ancient Philippi, which also speak to me. These words nail me to the cross and threaten to keep me there.
1 “Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate?
2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.
3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.
4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”
In other words, the introduction to this wonderful passage about God’s downward mobility in Jesus is preceded by the challenge for me to have the same attitude. I just hate it when the context of a passage from the Bible is this clear!
The verses after the poetry are equally clear and equally discomforting.
“12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.
13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
14 Do everything without complaining and arguing,
15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.
16 Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.”
Apparently, Jesus’ downward mobility means that I have to stop complaining and arguing. Perhaps that is one aspect of embracing poverty and simplicity.
On second thought, I’m glad that I’m not a Franciscan. If I were, I might have to take seriously the implications of the gospel.
DOWN TO EARTH BELIEVER
- “Even a Sliver of Light” April 9, 2024“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:6, English Standard Version) I missed the total eclipse yesterday. There were a number of good reasons for this, but […]
- “The Process in Miracles and the Miracle of Process” March 11, 2024“2 Kings 5:1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids […]
- “The Power of Encouragement—Even for Old People” March 10, 2024“But encourage each other every day while it is ‘today.’ Help each other so none of you will become hardened because sin has tricked you.” (Hebrews 3:13, New Century Version) Yesterday, I was walking at a nearby park. There was a large group of young people some of whom were running while other young people […]
- “Endurance” March 10, 2024“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” (Hebrews 10:36, English Standard Version) “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us […]
- “The Limits of Non-Judgmentalism” February 24, 2024“Matt. 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. Matt. 7:2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2, English Standard Version) This morning, in my virtual 12-step meeting, we discussed the topic of judgmentalism. There were many wise […]
- “Delighting in Being Told What to Do?!?” February 23, 2024“Psa. 112:1 Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! 2 His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures […]
- “Character is the Real Lesson” January 19, 2024I am often confused about what lesson I’m really supposed to be learning. For example, this morning I was trying to knock out several Spanish lessons. My intentions were a lot better than my internet connection. I’ve done three lessons. Or rather, I’ve done two lessons. One of them I did twice because the internet […]
- “The Year of Becoming Un-Planked” January 1, 2024Each year, I try to come up with one word or a short phrase for what I intend to work on in the upcoming year. 2024 is “The Year of Becoming Un-Planked”. What?!! What does that even mean? So glad that you asked! Jesus said to his disciples, “Why do you look at the speck […]
- “Searching for the Noble One” December 26, 2023My wife and I were reading Luke, chapter 2 on Christmas Day. Luke 2 talks about the shepherds being told to look for this very special child—in fact, this King—in a stable. I prefer the word “barn”. I grew up on a farm. I know what a barn is. A stable is entirely too biblical […]
- “That Don’t Impress God Much” December 14, 2023DTEB, “That Don’t Impress God Much” “That Don’t Impress Me Much” (Song by Robert John Lange and Shania Twain) Micah 6:8 (MSG) “But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be […]
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