Finding the Simple Life with Meaning
We’ve been talking about decluttering, not to get rid of junk for the sake of junk, but to better focus on what is important.
We often substitute temporary for eternal;
Wood, hay and stubble, for gold, and precious stones;
Busy-ness for what is important;
We buy to fill our inner soul yet aren’t satisfied.
Our soul yearns for more.
Some would substitute de-cluttering and minimizing for seeking adventures and life. These actions alone will not bring what they want.
They are left empty and hollow.
Decluttering helps with cleaning, and eliminating stress and depression.
We can control something when problems are beyond our control. We can throw something out.
But that doesn’t give us meaning.
Those empty spaces will fill again with something else.
Something harder to get rid of.
The man who had a demon cast out, merely cleaned his house for seven more demons to enter and stay.
His bondage was greater.
The problem is Who do we trust.
The atheist did not become an atheist overnight. He felt the pressure to trust. But instead he wanted control.
He refused to submit and instead turned to what he could do.
His heart was hardened. He did this again and again.
He know longer would believe.
Happiness is not found in a simple life, more adventure or pursuing life, any more than it ends with buying more stuff.
Substitutes for what is real does not complete the soul.
Searching for ourselves.
Fulfilling our needs.
Telling ourselves we are worth more.
Looking out for what is good for me.
These things don’t satisfy.
They only show a bigger hole.
Because we were made for something more.
Our incompleteness can only be made right by the One Who created us and made us for Him.
Only through submitting to Him will our soul find rest.
Only in seeking Him will meaning be found.
That is the simple, whole life.
Not easy. But simple. With meaning.
This prayer, I wrote, to help me focus on what is the simple life with meaning:
May I trust the Hand that only gives good when the pain is great.
May I rest on the Rock that does not move when I don’t understand.
May I obey because it is right when it offers no reward.
May I wait for His promise when cheap substitutes are offered.
May I listen for His Word, instead of speaking my own.
May I weep at what brings tears to Him.
May I see Him clearly, though my eyes loose their sight.
May I know the peace only His nearness brings.
May I feel the fullness of joy that comes by His presence.
May I desire nothing but Him and His pleasure.
Lots to think about and really appreciate your poem. I've been browsing through a book about happiness right now, and one thought really struck me. Many look back on different times of their lives and think about how happy they were then, yet at the time they didn't realize it. We need to pay attention to now and what God has blessed us with every day. We will never find happiness by seeking after it, it a a by-product of our relation with God and with others.