The Discipline of Simplicity
Our drawers were a mess. Under garments all mixed up. Socks missing their pairs, shirts covered with unnecessary wrinkles. Getting dressed was exhausting because it would take me forever to find that one soft gray V-neck (not to mention how aggravated I’d get after unsuccessfully finding it). After a long day, I’d roll up anything that survived the day without getting dirty and stuff it in a drawer to wear another day.
Laundry day was more like laundry weeks. We would do our laundry at our parents’ house or the barber shop (where Joshua worked) and feel so accomplished. Until, Joshua and I would leave piles of CLEAN CLOTHES thrown in a corner of our room for weeks at a time. These clothes just needed to be folded and put away…
BUT WHO’S GOT TIME FOR THAT!?
We struggled hard staying on top of this area and we were always frustrated that we couldn’t find what we needed. Not finding what we needed would lead us to being late to an event, which would lead to frustration with one another, which would lead to tension, which would lead to a fight, which would lead to a ruined evening. Why? All because we didn’t fold the freakin’ clothes!
This was a real issue for us. UNTIL…we discovered Marie Kondo (insert *smirk smile emoji* here).
I remember her show, Tiding Up, was displayed at the top of my Netflix page. I let the trailer for her show play. I thought “She is adorable. She is Japanese (I love Japanese shows) and she likes to organize. I love to organize.” I was intrigued and started to watch the first episode. I soon realized she was a beast and I could learn so much from her. From letting go of unnecessary things to appreciating what you have. Her technique made sense to me and I could see how implementing her organization strategies could really make a difference. Her clients were learning beautiful lessons of value, honor and respect all while sorting through junk drawers.
Then she got to the lesson on folding (*gulp*) and putting away clothes. I had seen so many organization techniques on this and was convinced this would be a basic “folding your clothes like you work at Abercrombie” session. Well, I was wrong. In Marie’s method, you folded clothes upright. This allows you to see what you’ve got without pulling apart a pile of shirts, pants, underwear or socks. I HAD NEVER THOUGHT OF THIS. NEVER. It was so simple and made so much sense.
After that, I was hooked and got Joshua hooked. We were on a mission to redo our drawers! We found a clip of her folding clothes using her method and re-watched it about 10 times, until we mastered it. By the end of the week, all of our drawers, including Ezra’s were organized and decluttered the Marie Kondo way. (I’ll attach a link below for fun.)
Our friends would come over and we’d ask if they want to see our drawers. We were hyped. Finding clothes was so easy and folding them again became like second nature to us. Super simple and it felt so satisfying to look at once it was done.
Why was this the case?
See, before our drawers got all pretty and organized we got rid of a lot of unnecessary items we weren’t using anymore. This greatly decreased the amount of clothes we had, reducing the amount of options we had to wear . Believe it or not, this saved us so much time. We stopped being late places because we couldn’t find “the right shirt.” As a result, clothing frustrations diminished and we argued less about being late.
I know I am just talking about clothes, but now instead of time spent frustrated or arguing we could use that time to connect with one another, to be prepared mentality for the next thing, to enjoy our time at the next place, or complete the next task well.
This was the result of embracing simplicity in our lives.
The practice of simplicity offers us the ability to focus on what really matters. Simplicity is not just the latest minimalist craze, but it is a shift in the mind. It is not saying that material things are bad, but it is putting them in their rightful place. It is acknowledging that material things aren’t the ultimate goal in life. They are not the things that deserve all of our time and attention. They are not the things that can ultimately fulfill us.
Jesus is the only thing that can ultimately fulfill us. He has given us the gift of being a part of His Kingdom. With this gift comes the opportunity to live according to His Kingdom. In Jesus’ Kingdom, the focus is no longer acquiring material wealth. His kingdom is about having an eternal and holy perspective (which we will dive into in other blogs). We no longer live for the things of this world, but for things that matter to Him. Our desires and passions align to His.
“This is why I tell you to never be worried about your life, for all that you need will be provided, such as food, water, clothing—everything your body needs. Isn’t there more to your life than a meal? Isn’t your body more than clothing? “Look at all the birds—do you think they worry about their existence? They don’t plant or reap or store up food, yet your heavenly Father provides them each with food. Aren’t you much more valuable to your Father than they? So, which one of you by worrying could add anything to your life? “And why would you worry about your clothing? Look at all the beautiful flowers of the field. They don’t work or toil, and yet not even Solomon in all his splendor was robed in beauty more than one of these! So if God has clothed the meadow with hay, which is here for such a short time and then dried up and burned, won’t he provide for you the clothes you need—even though you live with such little faith? “So then, forsake your worries! Why would you say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For that is what the unbelievers chase after. Doesn’t your heavenly Father already know the things your bodies require? “So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly.”
Matthew 6:25-33
Jesus knows that what will ultimately fill us up is Him and everything a part of His Kingdom. As followers of Jesus, we are called to live for the Kingdom, to seek that first and everything else will fall into place. God’s Kingdom is designed with simplicity in mind. Practices like the disciplines, sharing a meal, true fellowship, community and relationship all flow from the pursuit of simplicity found in His Kingdom. The disciplines are all simple in nature (doesn’t mean they’re easy) and don’t require much, but what the practice of simplicity requires the most is a change in mindset.
Our culture encourages a mindset that is focused on staying up to date with the current trends, never missing a post, or having the perfect Pinterest-looking house. Meanwhile, we are accumulating debt because of all the stuff we have filled our homes with. Not to mention the anxiety of knowing we will never measure up to our societies ever changing standards of success. We are stressed when we can’t pay the bills because we have overspent on things that don’t matter. We are stressed when our house is too cluttered and we can’t seem to organize or manage it all.
Point blank: the issues exist because we have spent time focusing on and making time for the pursuit of things that don’t really matter.
So how do we start making time for the things that will ultimately fulfill us? How do we begin to practice the discipline of simplicity?
We can start here:
1. Start practicing the other disciplines. Before you start your work day, before the kids wake up Make time for things like prayer, study, silence and solitude. This time sets the standard for the rest of the day. i.e. “I will focus on the things that matter today.” Remind yourself of this when you start to lose perspective.
2. Get rid of the noise. Look at your house. Look at the excess. Get rid of it. Donate it. Sell it. Whatever you don’t need, let it go.
3. Take time to enjoy simplicity. Go on a walk, read a book by the fire, listen to good music, watch good art, create something with your hands, date your husband (and don’t check your phone), play with your kids (and don’t post about it).
4. When you are with people that matter, put your phone away. Place a basket at the entrance of your home. Put your phone in there when you arrive. When you are home, be home. Enjoy the presence of loved ones. Enjoy talking to them, looking at them, conversing with them.
“Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Mark 10:14-15
Joshua often says, “Children are able to live “simply” because mom and dad take care of the “complicated” stuff. Children don’t have to worry.”
We are children of God. We get to enjoy Jesus, practice the disciplines and embrace simplicity because He takes care of the complicated stuff. We get to live like children in this Kingdom where Dad takes care of business. All we have to do is focus on the things that will ultimately fulfill us.
[Him and His Kingdom]
Let’s start living like children again.
Until Next Time,
We Are Ecclesia
