The World We Make For Ourselves

For the last few days I have thought a lot about the world we live in and by this I mean our own private world that fills our days and then on a greater scale, the world we live in as in the world situation.

With the economic state of affairs of the world, more people are talking about "simple living" as if it is just about your surroundings and it isn't. Surroundings and life style are a part of simple living. You could chose to run off to the mountains, live in a cabin with no modern conveniences, be completely out of debt, live green as can be, but have a life that is not simple. On the flip side of that, you could live in a big city apartment and have a simple life because the simple life is more than the day to day trappings of your life. Say for instance you live debt free, have a clothesline, have wood heat etc etc etc, but you made miserable choices in your life such as a spouse with addictions or abuse. You have children that you let run wild. Maybe you were too self absorbed with your own life to deal with them when they were little. You suddenly discover they are not ethical and have very few morals and always dealing with one "event" after another that makes your life seem like a soap opera. You may be able to keep all this from friends, putting up a good front. You may keep it off your blog, but it makes your private life a living hell. Simplicity can seem far away no matter where you lay your head at night. Maybe one kid is in jail, another won't speak to you, or maybe they all come hanging around to sponge off you. Their bad choices spilling over into your life. Now, no matter if you have a cabin in the woods, you are going to have a complicated life due to choices made early on. Maybe you wrestle with regrets and more regrets for choices made and sleepless nights are the norm. Nothing simple about that no matter where or how you live. Perhaps you tried moving far from your children or your past only to find it resurface time and time again. Perhaps you are riddled with guilt, the kind that removes peace of mind. Maybe you go to bed each night worried about your adult children or your teens and preteens that have taken a really wrong turn. No matter where you live or how you live, simplicity is not in the equation. And the rub is, much of life is not a "do over". How you raise your family is not something you get to do over. If you mess up bad with your kids, it can be in your face for a lifetime. And if you had no good example yourself, its hard to get it right. Is there hope ? Of course. Miracles do happen. I love the little book by Evelyn Christenson, "What Happens When Women Pray" There is story after story of complicated lives that became simple from just one kind of prayer... a brave prayer. "Whatever it takes Lord" Restoration, change, confession, apology and an openness that leads to forgiveness, all with a willingness to let God do whatever it takes for transformation. I have seen huge miracles from following what this book points out. I have lead several studies using this book and seen first hand what this kind of praying can bring about. Peace of mind is the real foundation to a simple life. Bitterness and strife don't mix with simplicity.

From day one, Emery and I made hard choices, ones that were not popular with family and friends. We chose a narrow road and we heard comments about being too strict, being fanatical, being this and that with the children. Homeschooling was wrong in just about every ones eyes way back in the early 1980's when we decided it would be the road we took. But we are now reaping benefits so great. A happy marriage, a prayerful life, children that are blessings to us, children that we like to be around. Independent adult children that are really good people. Those things are the greatest aspects of our simple life, more so than spinning wheels, wood heat, clotheslines, no debt, homemade soap, goats and chickens.
Young parents, my advice, invest in your children, by giving them a strong moral foundation and your time. Don't worry about giving them fancy things or costly activities. Those are not the things that count in the end. Be an example of a good person, not a two sided person. Hypocrisy is so clearly seen by children and is an example that makes for bitterness. Be an example of a good marriage to your children. You will reap great blessings in the years to come.

In the last few months I have seen all kinds of writings about the worlds "Karma" right now and how our "collective thoughts" are setting the stage for what may come. I understand what is trying to be said. Only its not the terms or concepts everyone would use..... I understand there are many roads out there, but here is one that can work for many.

Philippians 4: 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

That would change the world !

What so many in the world admire about the Amish and Mennonite, is not really the external simple life, but the peace of mind that they so have. Its just so much easier for folks to try to incorporate the externals in hopes of finding the good simple life rather than make heart changes. Faith and a narrow walk is not always easy, matter of fact, it never seems very easy. I feel that same kind of admiration for Buddhist, that walk with compassion and the desire to end suffering in all mankind.