A Life of Simplicity

Today in my ponderings, I am thinking about the meanings of simplicity … simplify … simply.

What does it mean to live a life of simplicity?
What areas of our family life do we need to simplify?
Maybe my job loss will cause us to learn to live simply.

No … don’t worry … I am not wanting to throw away all comforts and live as a pioneering Amish woman. (While I do believe there are benefits to such a lifestyle.)

I am laying on a blanket in the middle of an open field. The blanket is not comfortable … it is the simple little complimentary blanket from American Airlines. The grass is not comfortable .. it is nearly dead, and crunches underfoot. The ground is not comfortable … it is still nearly frozen from the cold winter. Yet … I am comfortable. I am happy. I am content. I am at peace. I am in a good place (physically, spiritually, emotionally). The only thing missing is … my family. Oh how I wish that Jim and the children could be here with me … experiencing this new culture together. (Then, of course, with 6 young children here my life would not be quite as relaxed and simple.)

Seriously … life here is simple. And, in that simplicity the students are not distracted from all of the “comforts of home”.

Today, we have no water. Not to worry … we can wash the dishes and clothes tomorrow.

One evening we had no electricity. Not to worry … we had the warmth of the campfire and the light of the moon.

Today, Carissa overslept and didn’t get us signed up to eat lunch. Not to worry … we could eat yesterday’s leftovers. (Several of the young men offered their lunches to us, but were happy with the leftovers.)

The buildings here do not have heat. Not to worry … my 6 blankets kept me warm last night.

With our late nights, I have not made it to breakfast yet. Not to worry … the tea and crackers offered by my cabin-mates warms my heart and fills my tummy.

Last night, when it took us 2 ½ hours to get home after dinner (due to the lack of change for the bus), I could have easily paid for 2 taxis. However, I felt the Lord wanted me to walk the walk of these missionary students. While I was excited to treat them to pizza for dinner, I also wanted them to know that I was quite content (even comfortable) walking the streets of the city and waiting at a bus stop for an hour at midnight. I am NOT an American woman that needs to be pampered and catered to (which is an easy stereotype for people here to assume).

I am not at all rejecting or condemning the life I live at home. I enjoy my central heating and comfortable new bed. I like knowing that I can shower whenever I want to. I really like my super-size Whirlpool Duet washer and dryer. I love my big van that holds all 15 family members. And, I like my little Ford Focus station wagon for running errands.

The question, however, is … Could I live without these things? Absolutely!

In many ways, my recent job loss has called us to re-examine our priorities … knowing that we are probably entering a season of “Living on Less”. I am, however, actually excited for the challenge. I’m excited to have more time for meal planning, shopping for sales, and cooking “the old fashioned way”. I’m excited to bring out the wheat grinder to bake fresh bread again (something I’ve hardly done for 4 years).

In many ways, “Living on Less” as a family, is training our children for the mission field. I remember when Cassie did her YWAM DTS, she told us that in many ways the other students were struggling more than she was. They were used to having their own bedrooms … they struggled with dormitory living. Whereas, Cassie had always shared a bedroom. They were used to an “open kitchen” where they could eat whatever and whenever they wanted … they struggled with the “closed kitchen”, scheduled meals, and limited portions. Whereas, Cassie had grown up with all of these in place. They were used to parents that took care of the house and the yard … they struggled with all of the required chores. Whereas, Cassie was excited at the opportunity to drive the tractor and mow 7 acres each week.

As we move into this new season of “Living on Less”, I look forward to making changes with the view of “Training Missionaries” rather than the view of “I wish I could provide more for our family”. I must keep my focus on God’s perspective … not the world’s perspective of “everyone else has ______”.

What does this mean, in practical terms? (Obviously, these are things that need to be discussed and confirmed with my dear husband.”

#1 Maybe we should/could turn the thermostat down a notch or two. Maybe we need to wear sweatshirts and socks in the house when it’s cold.

#2 Maybe we need to try new meal options. (I already have some ideas from my time here.) Do we NEED to serve dessert every time we have company?

#3 Maybe we need to sell a car or two. (We do have 7 on our insurance right now.)

#4 Maybe I need to ride the bus sometimes when I go into the city to shop. (Obviously, this depends on how many things I’ll be bringing home. It won’t work for grocery shopping.) Our kids have been riding the city busses for years, unlike the majority of their peers who get cars when they turn 16.

#5 Maybe we need to set a weekly/monthly limit on coffee shop visits. (Oh dear!) We have an espresso machine at home … we just need to make time to use it. Yes, the drive-thru a block from our house is yummy and convenient. But . is it God’s BEST for us (financially speaking)???

While it is the job loss that has instigated this type of ponderings … I believe they are healthy things for all of us to think about. Even if we can afford all of the comforts of this world … are they God’s BEST for our families? The students here are all “on the same page” so to speak. Whether they come from plenty or from want … they have all chosen to live simply, in order to draw closer to the Lord and to learn to serve Him with all of their hearts.

I am excited! Excited … to learn what God has for us in this new season. Excited … to have more TIME (for God, for Papa, for my children). Excited … to homeschool my children without the constraints and schedules of the Enrichment School. Excited … to seek the Lord, as a family, for clear direction in this time. Excited … to see each of my children as “His Missionaries”. And, excited … to see what HE has planned for each of their lives.