So ... here's what I've noticed lately. (Warning: This is not overly profound!)
Simplicity in the way we deal with money and stuff almost certainly demands some simplicity in scheduling issues. For, it is when we begin running too fast that all kinds of random spending seems more likely to occur.
Simplicity in the way we handle money and purchasing decisions takes time, thoughtfulness, constant attention and ceaseless intention. The cultural message to spend and buy and purchase is simply too strong. It must be fended off at all times. This takes the kind of intentionality that a speedy life sometimes steals from us.
Little example: Yesterday I wanted to swim with my mom in the morning. She's struggling with some arthritis issues and swimming helps her. It is fun when we swim together. So, swim we did. Then I wanted to go to Wendy B's dad's funeral. So go I did. Then I wanted to rush to church to get my teaching slides in to Jonny before it got too late. But I was hungry. It felt to me like my only choice was to grab a little snack at those Golden Arches, which were conveniently located between New Hampton and Orchard Hill Church! I could have run home, but I felt pressed for time. Had to get the slides in. Had to get groceries before the kids got out of school ...
Now, granted ... spending less then $3 at McD's was not a budget buster. Granted, most of the things I did with my time yesterday were good. But, the lesson still stuck. And it leaves me in a bit of a conundrum ...
What do I say "yes" to in life? What do I say "no" to? How important is it to me to leave enough margin in time and energy so that I can remain intentional about how I live? Not just with money and purchasing, but with everything?
Do you know what I'm talking about?
Do you think the pursuit of financial simplicity is intimately connected to simplicity in schedule?
If you had more margin in life do you think it would allow you to be more mindful of your spending habits?
How high do you think this particular issue would be on Jesus' priority list?
Please, if you have some thoughts on this ... post a comment. We're really curious.
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3 comments:
I am in full agreement that rushing makes me eat more junk food, spend more, and waste more resources. It is no small thing to keep life simple however. It takes a lot of work. It is a paradox, because you would think it would be easier not harder to keep things simple!
We have to be very careful how we spend the resource of time too, I believe. It always seems like it will be easier in the next stage of life. I have not yet reached it!! Guess I may have to wait till heaven? I think we have to always look at the big picture and plan ahead. Stopping at the Arches may make our life more simple. I think that keeps the legalism out of simplicity. Also, having some "emergency" non perishable food in our cars may be another option-I used to do that better when my children were small. I admit I don't do as well with that now, but it helps when I do-but it is harder when it freezes.
I am working on using what I have in my cupboards-which is a lot. I fell down last week when Aldi's had some things half price-it seemed wise, but added to my freezer supply.
I found a box of rice and beans in by pantry. That it is in a box is probably not "simplicity" either. (It did come from the bargin grocery-25 cents-so it was cheap and will be fast-will that help count for simplicity??) Will see what my sons say when I cook them.
Bonnie
Thanks for those thoughts, Bonnie. The struggle to push simplicity without heading into legalism is interesting.
Also, choosing to care for people and be generous with them, while keeping an eye on the $$ is interesting, too. We are having some friends over tomorrow night so I want to buy nice food ... but decided to go really simple at the same time. Two kinds of vegetable soup and some bread. We'll sit around the fire and play games. Should be funner than a movie and dinner out, where I always eat too much anyway!
I like your idea of keeping food in the car. I'm a snacker, so having some crackers and cheese is just as satisfying as a stop at McD's ... but still demands forethought, something I don't have much of these days!
Anyway, thanks for your comments. You are an inspiration.
Time managment comes to my mind when I read this blog. Then behind that thought things like over-commited, not keeping priorities in tact, unorganization, no goals, laziness, and tired come to my mind. I read and did the study "A Woman After God's Own Heart" last year and a large section of it was on time managment and knowing our priorities, according to God's priorities for our life right now. Now, as I read it I was thinking...huh, some of these things are pretty easy to start doing...however, through time...I've found I'm back to where i've started almost and need to re-organize my life in relation to time managment and my priorities. Maybe this is a constant thing we are doing to keep our life "simple" or at least feel simple?
"Order emerges out of chaos when we schedule what's important" Elizabeth George.
Along with Elizabeth's quote she gave 12 tips in time managment...now these seem helpful in making my life simpler in the long run...
1. plan in detail
2. deal with today
3. value each MINUTE
4.keep moving
5. develop a routine
6.excercise & diet (right, when?)
7.ask the "half the time question"- ask yourself how would I get this done if I only had half the time...then do it that way.
8.use a timer for everything (I get the heart racing -running out of time - feeling doing this sometimes and it's stressful!)
9. do the worst first
10. read daily on time managment for 5 minutes
11.say NO - make your schedule and let it be plan A, only move to plan B if God is moving you towards it
12. begin the night before
Simplicity...does every culture/country struggle with this in their life in some way? A big majority of our culture is "busyness"...and home managment may equal a little more simplicity...
I too spend more when I am rushed/unorganized...it's easier to just pay for something quick, rather then spend time at home preparing for whatever it is I needed.
Am I rushed because I'm over-commited, lazy, unintentional, and tired?
How do I balance my days and time spent on this earth?
The whole snack/food thing...in the summer I tried to keep a small cooler in the van and loaded it with snacks as we would come & go during the week...fall came, school started, small groups began up again, church things were happening, and so on...where did that little cooler go???
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