Simplicity - Sabbath

In our world, there’s something to be said for simplicity! There’s something to be said for taking time. Of course- no one disputes that, in theory!

The thing we’re all having a problem with is finding the time to DO THAT! Can I get an AMEN out there!?

Quitting our jobs, and moving to the country, as enticing as that may sound to some, is mostly not realistic or most. So now what? What do we do? How do we simplify? How do we take time? Well, we do what we can – when we can… how we can. And it may mean us taking a pretty hard and serious look at our lives. Some of you may say- “My life is VERY busy… I don’t like the stress, the activity, the business, the life-style (whatever), but really, there’s nothing I can do to improve it!” Well- what can you do with that? Nothing! This person is preparing for an early grave- no matter how old they are.

But knowing we can do something and making the efforts to do something are very different. It doesn’t make “simplifying life” easier, does it? As I said yesterday in my sermon, if you ever had to chop bushes back (in your yard or wherever), you know that if left unattended, they WILL come back! They WILL creep back into your space! Little by little, they re-claim that which is not attended to! Simplifying and de-cluttering, and taking seriously the Sabbath is NOT easy… ironically NOT simple! Our normal, life-stuff WILL re-claim our lives if we do not attend to it!

We middle-class suburbanites seemed plagued by mental and physical clutter: driving here and there, meetings, preparing dinners, responsibilities to kids and/or parents, pets, home projects, work projects, etc. Always there’s something more to do, causing a lot of stress – and that stress really does affect our minds and bodies! It really does.

So, I’d like to help in some way with this. This is not designed to make anyone feel guilty – if any of this can help, use it. If it brings a smile to your face, great! If it helps you sit still for a second to find that quiet place, fantastic. If you see this as totally unrealistic crap… then feel no pressure to seek further! If this makes you feel guilty that you CAN’T find the peace you’re looking for… then stop. I don’t want to add more guilt on you.

I’m interested in sending a daily (or there-about) message centered around the ideas of Sabbath, simplifying life, living a life with meaning, etc. Hope it helps to cut the brush back a little!

Just some ideas… enjoy:

http://simplemom.net/7-principles-to-simplify-your-family-life/

C-