I don't know of anyone that's not looking for ways to simplify their life. With the demands of our culture, packed schedules and the need to multi-task, there is a longing to find anything that can modify the intensity of it all.
High Springs is growing very fast and many of the people who are coming are from South Florida, hoping to escape the complicated fast pace of that part of our state. I can't say I blame them.
I've been working on this for a long time. Simplifying life in all of its dimensions isn't done over night. The scripture gives many clues for this. I've especially been noticing that Jesus was never in a hurry, never panicked, seemed to always be on time and remained remarkably peaceful in the context of tremendous pressures.
I've touched on this before but Jesus disclosed the secret of His life in the Gospel of John as we are allowed to glimpse into the intimate relationship He had with His Father. Living here was simply a matter of hearing His Father and doing what He said! With life being full of messages, sounds and images that forcibly intrude on us, I find it challenging to filter out the noise and clearly discern Him. I think it takes practice and intentional disciplines...and it's worth it!
A spiritual life requires discipline because we need to learn to listen to God, who constantly speaks, but whom we seldom hear. Henri Nouwen states that when we learn to listen, our lives become obedient lives. Obedient is from the Latin word audire, which means listening. Without listening, our lives become absurd (derived from the Latin word surdis, meaning deaf), ridiculous, out of control, complicated. Spiritual discipline is necessary to move slowly from an absurd to an obedient life, from a life filled with noisy worries to a life in which there is some free inner space where we can listen to our God and follow His guidance.
Jesus was always listening to His Father. We need to be "all ears" for God! The core of all prayer is listening and obediently standing in His presence...the simple life as Jesus prescribed it.
Adapted from The Only Necessary Thing by Henri J.M. Nouwen
I needed to hear this. Hope it blesses, challenges and begins to simplify your life as it has mine.
Blessings,
Mitch
