a holy lent--simplicity

I enjoy the magazine “Real Simple” with its space-saving solutions, its paired down decor and clean lines.  I like the concept, but I can’t live that way.  My house is filled with so much stuff, and each item carefully placed in view has a memory attached or a useful purpose to perform. 

My brain is a little bit like my house.  I long for a SIMPLICITY of spirit that doesn’t judge or demand complex decisions.  But my mind is full of memories of experiences that have taught me to be careful, cautious and wary, that have tuned me into unseen motives behind requests.  And so, I cannot simply BE…even in the presence of God, I must be always searching, analyzing.  Do you ever feel this way? 

What I really long for is to simply dwell in God’s presence with no agenda of my own.  Simplicity, unquestioning devotion, un-anxious acceptance are superpowers that I lack.  But since I long for them, I practice a mindful emptying this week.  

One of my favorite scriptures is Psalm 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God.”  A spiritual exercise that helps me is to say that verse over and over again, dropping off the last word each time:

           “Be still and know that I am God.”

           “Be still and know that I am.”

           “Be still and know that I…”

           “Be still and know that?”

           “Be still and know.”

           “Be still and…”

           “Be still.”

           “BE!” 

But there are other verses that challenge me to simplicity, like this one:   

           “My eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great…but I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother.”  Psalm 131:1-2

What do I look at most of the time?  Am I focusing on things that make me feel dissatisfied?  Do I spend enough time just gazing into the face of my loving parent?  

My daughter began her new year cleaning cabinets, also seeking simplicity.  She wrote, “I think Jesus might even roll his eyes at me as I wonder if I should keep all of these things to make my life better—more productive, healthier, cleaner, holier.  Holier, as if something aside from Jesus is the answer.”    What have you been leaning into besides Jesus to feel holier?  What might we have to let go of, to cling simply to him?  If tidiness is not holiness, what is?

Love, Liz