keeping it simple

People always say that they want a simple life, yet work so hard that they miss it.

"Oh, I don't want a big house or a fancy car, just a nice home and a loving family.” I've heard this so. Many times, that if I had a nickel every time I did, I would have enough to support a simple life.

Maybe simple is defined differently among others, but you can't say that a large, top of the line, SUV and wanting a mani-pedi every week is keeping it simple.  Having the best sports car or largest TV and a boat is simple either.

I like to see all these prominent people in the Church that drive these fancy cars and have large mansions and wear expensive clothing.  Always makes me turn my head.

I think simple is all we were meant to have....especially when there are so many in this world who can't even have that.

In the book of Acts chapter 4, it says that of the church "... the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common (32)....and "nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. (34-35)"

So we work 60 hour weeks for simple?  I don't think so.

There is a part inside everyone that desires riches.  You can't avoid it.  When we see others with lake houses and giant showers is when the seed is planted inside us.  Just like temptation.  We are willing to go into massive debt just to have these things.

And that is when simple fades away.

We were created for simple, but it was out desire for more that destroyed it.  In Genesis, when God created us, all He instructed Adam to do was name the animals on this earth.  Not too hard or difficult.  I imagine him sitting under a tree just naming them as they walk by.  You have an angel in heaven acting as a stenographer documenting all these animals. Adam was the first zoologist if you really think about it.  Anyway, complication came when the desire to have knowledge entered.  That is when simple went away.

There has to come a time in our lives that we have to be happy with what we have.  A roof over our head, food to eat and a life filled with love should be more than enough for us.  Happiness isn’t sitting on a yacht, but it’s sitting outside with a friend or partner enjoying the beauty of a sunset.

I’m sure if you ask a parent what is one of the best memories they have of their children, they won’t say it was the time that they went on a trip to some extravagant resort.  No, I imagine they are going to say it was sitting with them late at night when they had a nightmare, throwing the ball around with them in the front yard or teaching them how to tie a tie.

When we become adults, we work our butts off for a huge paycheck and recognition. This doesn’t bring happiness or a simple life. 

I spend a lot of my day at work around men who try to boast about what they have and what they wear.  They always told me that when I get into the car business that the money would change me.  For the most part it hasn’t except that I have it now.  No, I haven’t gone out and bought expensive clothes like they have nor have I bought an expensive car or gone on any great vacations.  No, I am trying to keep my life simple. 

I enjoy music, so I have invested in that, new instruments and new computer software to help me with it. 

I am not working though to support my hobby or to support my life style.  I am working merely because I need money to live.  When I leave work, I leave everything at work.  I enjoy my days off.  I go out with friends, read, cook and play music. 

I want my children to have nice things; do not get me wrong, but what good are nice things when they don’t have a mom and dad there to share it with because they are working so much, or what would it benefit them if their parents are too tired and stressed to enjoy their childhood? 

So I will strive to give my children the best, but not at the price of them missing a relationship with their father and mother.  Kind of sounds familiar?  Maybe God doesn’t want to give us the greatest things in the world because if He did, we might not need Him.  Food for thought.

So I refuse to let my career prevent me from enjoying life as it was meant to be enjoyed.  I will not let it hinder my faith and I will not allow it to stop me from enjoying the simple things in this world.

So, I guess you could say that my job is everything but working.  I read a tweet the other day that I absolutely love by Bob Goff.  He said, “if you want to change everything, treat your faith like it’s your career and your occupation as your day job.”  This is what I am striving for.  This, I believe, leads to a simple life.