Open Myself to God - Simplicity

     This is such an easy concept to think and talk about, but it's so hard to put into practice sometimes.  Life just isn't simple of it's own accord.  So many times just getting in the car can be really complicated; you might be running late, you might hit a detour.  Our modern lives have become focused on adding; adding another car, adding another football game.  We are such a consumer society that it seems almost completely against our nature to lessen our consumption of something.  This idea of simplifying our lives has become so against our nature that it almost feels wrong.

     Jesus reminds us of the finite nature of living in a materialistic world in Matthew 6:

"Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasure in heaven...For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Matthew 6:19-21

      Everything that we buy, everything that we keep in this world will eventually vanish.  In the very end of our lives, we won't even be able to hold on to our body.  Jesus reminds us that there's no point to putting our effort into worldly possessions when the only thing that we will keep is the kingdom of God in us.  Simplicity opens us to receive the simple gifts that can never be taken away: sleeping, eating, walking, giving and receiving love, and the benefits we take for granted; through these daily pleasures we are invited to open ourselves to God.

     In reading this section, a song by Toby Mac comes to mind called Lose My Soul.  The whole chorus talks about how we don't want to gain the whole world, but lose our soul...because then, what's the point of living? I know that the "more is better" mentality has shaped me by making me always want the coolest laptop, or the newest ipod.  But really, what has it done for me except make me waste more money?  It definitely hasn't made my happier, and certainly never brought me closer to God.