Reflections

So there I was in the coffee and tea aisle. As I was heading toward the coffee, I noticed my favorite chai latte packets, which had been out of stock for the last 5 months, were finally sitting on the shelf! These packets are my mini splurge that I use to prevent the larger splurge of going to get a latte from a cafe. $5 for 8 packets versus $6 for one medium latte. So I grabbed two boxes and tossed them in the cart. As soon as they were in the cart, I thought, “Shoot. This is a splurge. This is a want.”

You see, as our small group practices simplicity for Lent, our season-long challenge is to not acquire any wants. When we initially talked about that goal, I did not think about my grocery store splurges. 

… 

This first week of Lenten simplicity has been filled with lots of different themes tumbling around my brain. To keep it at the forefront of my mental ruminations, and not just an item on my to-do list, I’ve been trying a variety of things: listening to a Spotify playlist around the theme of simplicity, memorizing Matthew 6:19-34 (I’m 5 verses in), and doing a Bible plan on the topic. As a result, I’m mulling it over a lot throughout my day. 

While folding laundry, I was listening to the playlist, and the song “Where Your Treasure Is” by Jon Guerra came on. He sang, “Where your treasure is/ There your heart will be also/ What your measure is/ It'll measure you also/ What you really want/ Will be given to you some day.” As the song went on, I began meditating on that last line in conjunction with simplicity. What does accumulation demonstrate I really want? What does trying to achieve complete financial independence reveal about my desires? If what I want is complete independence from God and others, then one day I will be far from God. He designed us to be part of an interdependent community. We are the Family of God. We are supposed to trust Jehovah Jireh to provide for us, and while there are times that happens in a direct God-to-you miracle, more often, He works through His Body to accomplish His purposes. 

So, since I was folding laundry as I was meditating on this, I started reflecting on how I’m always quick to accept hand-me-downs for my kids from anyone. My thought is always that I can sell via consignment anything that we don’t want or need. Thus, not only do I not have to buy clothes, but I even make money by selling someone else’s clothes. But if instead of accumulating, I let them offer it to someone else, then others would also be cared for by God’s Family sharing their possessions. 

This may seem like a silly, minor example. But it truly reveals the type of grasping evident in my heart. I am the type of pre-hoarder who never wants to get rid of anything in case I need it someday. I don’t want to ask people for help. I only want to be the giver of help. I want to be generous because we have plenty– not generous like the poor widow who gave her last two pennies.

By simplifying, I practice trusting we have what we need– whether that’s in our own home or through the community into which God has placed us. 

… 

When I relayed the chai splurge epiphany to my husband, he asked when I realized they were a want. Sheepishly, I admitted that it was as soon as they went in my cart. He laughed because, lo and behold, those boxes of chai were sitting on our kitchen island. I knew I should’ve put them back. I did not. In fact, as I write this, I’m sipping on my chai. 

But this is the start of formation. Prior to beginning simplicity, I didn’t bat an eye at tossing them in the cart because I reasoned that it was really saving us money. I know that my indulgence is not well controlled but rather than cut it out, I just try to minimize the damage. But acknowledgement is the first step. Next time, I’m fairly confident I’ll be able to pass them by… or only buy one box. 

Practice

Simplicity is embracing what is necessary and paring back what is extraneous. While simplicity can be applied to any area of life, we are going to begin with what likely pops into your mind when you hear simplifying: your stuff.  

Pick a room, closet, or area in your home. I started with the toy area– which is probably a little unfair since it’s more like simplifying my kids’ stuff than my own. But it felt great! 

Once you’ve picked your space, REFLECT. You could journal or just spend time meditating and praying about these questions. 

1. How does this space make you feel?  

2. What is good here?
     a. What in this space is necessary for function?
     b. What allows me to practice my gifts and passions?
         (hospitality, music, exercise, gardening, generosity, etc.)
     c. What is beautiful and/or reflects God’s Kingdom values?

3. What is unnecessary or unhelpful?   
     a. What is redundant or more than needed?
     b. How can the things in this space be twisted to keep you distracted, discontent, or
         overwhelmed?

Based on those reflections, PRIORITIZE what is most valuable.

1. How can this space help you to love and worship God more?

2. How can you bring the Kingdom of God through this space? (love, mercy, justice, beauty, generosity, service, etc.)

3. If Jesus were living in this space, what might He keep and get rid of? 

Based on those reflections, SUBTRACT what is extraneous.

1. Gather 4 bins or bags: 
     a. Keep
     b. Trash or Recycle
     c. Donate/Sell
     d. Wait– this is a bin that allows you to reevaluate in 6 months. It’s helpful when we
         come across items that we haven’t used but really want, either because they hold
         sentimental value or make us feel some type of security or worth. If, after 6 months,
         you revisit the bin and haven’t thought about it or needed it, simplify.

2. Take everything out of its spot and sort into the respective bins. This forces you to actually reflect on each item and, once you’ve simplified, put things back in a cleanly organized way. It also prevents eyes skimming over a space and not even registering the stuff that’s been there for years. 

Your Turn

So try simplicity. Notice where you feel defensive or internal resistance. Meditate on that. Bring it to God. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you work through the fears, sadness, and idols that come up. Then leave a comment below to share your experience!