Live Simply

On the evening news one night last week, there was a segment about a young man who was trying to live with 100 or less items in his life.  He is part of a growing movement of people who focus on simplifying their lifestyles, whether from personal principles or economic necessity.  He had actually succeeded in decreasing the amount of stuff that had previously burdened him down.  Yet, he was living a comfortable and adequate existence.

It reminded me of a priest friend from years past.  His goal was to be able to move everything he owned in his car when he was transferred from one assignment to another in his ministry.  Obviously, because he always lived in parish accommodations, he did not need to own, and therefore move, furniture, appliances, etc.  However, he did limit his personal belongings, library, other stuff to what he could transport in his automobile.

Such simple living has many benefits and advantages.  Besides providing the opportunity to counteract the greed and acquisitiveness that is part of our human nature and certainly our society, this choice to live simply brings great freedom of spirit.  All the energy that would be spent in collecting and protecting our stuff can now be spent in other more lofty endeavors such as serving other people.

When we journeyed through our Hurricane Experience, we found that changed our lifestyle.  What a blessing that has proven to be as we now enjoy a much more simple life.  The beauty, joy and peace of God's world have become much more evident.  The time My Love and I have for each other and our families has multiplied.  We appreciate the freedom that is ours because of our simpler existence.  We obviously have not reached the point of living on 100 or less items.  However, the definite choice to downsize has reaped a harvest beyond measure.

To see suggestions about Living Simply So That Others May Simply Live, go to this website: http://www.suite101.com/content/living-with-less-a279107.  There are many other sites that can be googled for more information, but this one is a good place to start.

Carry-ons Only

Back in the 1980s, I traveled to India several times. It was my practice to pack one change of socks and underwear in my carry-on bag along with my shaving kit, passport and other essentials. The rest of my clothes and travel accoutrements would go in my checked luggage.

On one of those journeys, I arrived in Bombay (now known as Mumbai) only to be informed that the bag that I had checked did not arrive with me. Since I was catching a connecting flight in country, I could not await my luggage, but went on without it.

Arriving at my destination, I went to the marketplace and purchased another change of socks and underwear, and one more shirt. With this limited wardrobe, I traveled for three weeks very comfortably. Each evening I would wash out my shirt, underwear and socks, hang them up in my room, and by morning they would be dry. This routine continued throughout my entire trek.

Finally, on my way out of the country, I passed again through Mumbai, picked up my wayward bag and went home.

Because of this experience, I realized that I could travel a lot lighter than I had previously. Many of the items that I considered "necessities" were actually only added weight for the journey. Without them, I passed much more rapidly through customs, waited less time at my destinations, and arrived much more refreshed.

Secondly, I discovered that I did not need to be a slave to fashion. Not once in all my travels did anyone comment on my wardrobe and say: "Oh, you're wearing the same outfit as yesterday!" Even if they were thinking it, never did it become an obstacle.

Lastly, I learned the freedom that comes from not being focused on the material measures of my person. "Clothes do not the man make", as someone once said. I was free to place my energies on the point of my trip - to meet with and help other people.

In these times of economic stress, all these lessons have continued to serve me well. Voluntary simplicity brings great freedom to life. The truth of Jesus' words echoes loudly in my ears: "Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap...yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they?...See the lilies of the field. They do not work or spin, yet not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed like one of these...Stop worrying then over questions like 'What are we to eat, or what are we to drink, or what are we to wear?'...Your heavenly Father knows all that you need." Matthew 7:26-34.

Traveling lightly with only a carry-on makes the journey of life much easier. Since we are only pilgrims passing through this world, why do we let ourselves become burdened down with excess baggage?