Keep on Truckin'

Hello Orchard Hill Simplicity Seekers:

I mentioned to Laura that we should really continue the Simplicity blog. And so here I am, your humble Simplicity Blog encourager. And I mean humble because I am still learning and always will be. My hope is to post every Sunday and think on it through the week.

I have been on a simplicity journey for the last ten years or so. When I gave my heart to Christ in the fall of 1996, I realized I needed to make major adjustments in my lifestyle. I really stepped the effort up two years ago when I was engaged and preparing to marry, Matt, my husband. Now that we are adopting a baby girl, Mieke, I am even more committed to this idea as I want time to spend with her. I hope that maybe I can share some insights, successes and failures and we can encourage each other on this journey.

First off, I have a Bible verse I live by. This is from The Message version:
Philippians 3:12-14

"I am not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way; reaching out for Christ, who has so wonderously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward ---to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I am not turning back."

This verse reminds me to essentially "keep on truckin'." as they used to say. Paul is reminding the Philippians that we must keep on pursuing the cause of Christ, remember that is it not by our own doing or credentials but by Christ's work on the cross and that the reward will be that "He'll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him." (v. 21)

Simplicity to me is like a spiritual discipline: it adds margin to my life so that I am ready to serve God wherever and whenever He may need me. Simplifying my life has given me time to be about the work God has planned for me. It has freed me from the majority of worry, guilt and anxiety in my life over material things and relationships with others.

Alice asked: "What if this pursuit of simplicity never gets any easier? Am I still willing to make it a "way of life?" From where I stand now, ten years later, yes. It takes time and it becomes a way of life. If you recall, Genesis 3, we were never promised an easy life to begin with!

So with that said, I want to repeat another question Alice asked in her last post:

"What do you hope some of the rewards might be in choosing to live a more simple life?"

Post your comments and I'll work on next week's post. Keep on keeping on my friends.

Julie Ulven