This is probably the rhythm that I have grappled with the most. All of the rhythms are important, but I feel a sense of urgency attached to simplicity. Our world is anything but simple and I think it is longing for people and communities that are seeking and living simply. It can also be a complex and confusing discipline that can easily trip us up. For me it has also created a constant struggle against competition, comparison, and judgment.  

The first direction from which I really began to struggle with this idea of simplicity was from money and possessions– primarily with my relationship with money. Being an engineer and making an engineer’s salary in the Bay Area I sensed acutely a tension between what God has created me to be and do and what I think I’m worth verses what I think I need. There seems to be a constant pressure to make more in this area– both out of a perceived need (sense of scarcity) and a tech culture that can often equate self worth with what you make. These pressures can drive us towards seeking more compensation while driving me away from a deeper sense of what God is calling us to. I had been feeling for some time that God may be calling me to something other than software development but I didn’t feel free to pursue it because I felt like I needed the engineering salary.

I felt like I needed to intentionally seek a simpler life and that I also needed to understand exactly how much I need to sustain myself in this area. If I can choose a way of life that requires a lot less capital to sustain, I am a lot more free in my vocational choices. I don’t have to keep a busy, stressful, high-tech job if I don’t feel like that is what I’m called to. I think this is a practical route to a freedom God calls us to.

To help me get there, I started tracking every penny I spend (I got the idea from Your Money or Your Life). Developing this discipline helped me to better understand what I spend my money on and whether or not it is congruent with the way of life I am seeking. It gave me insight into what I need and what I don’t and gave me more control over it by allowing me to tangibly reflect on my spending habits.

The first "dojo" segment that we did with ReImagine was focused on money and possessions. We called it "have two give one" based on John the Baptist’s encouragement to give one tunic away if you have two. During this process we literally went through all of our stuff (books, bikes, clothes, everything) and tried to sell what we didn’t need to give the proceeds to the poor. It was a great exercise that we went through as a community (it took a few months).

We wrapped it up with a garage sale in the mission where we raised several hundred to give to worldvision. It made me a lot more aware of what I have and what the stuff is actually worth. Things that we originally purchased for $50 or $60 were going for just a few dollars on the street.

There is one other aspect of simplicity that I have been challenged by. If I am seeking a way of love for my creator and his creation I need to be available, with time, space, and energy (physical and emotional). This might mean making hard choices with work and play. For me, I was struck by how much stress at work can affect the rest of my life. If I want to lead a way of life of love, I need to be more intentional about the projects and responsibility I take on if it will affect my presence and capacity to seek this way of life. Maybe next time I need to pass on that project that my boss thinks will give me a lot of exposure.

Some books that I have found helpful in this area are Freedom of Simplicity and Voluntary Simplicity. Both were helpful in guiding me in a helpful direction. The latter book provides some interesting predictions of what the future might look like if we don’t take a more reflective approach to live. I also found Mustard Seed Versus McWorld and Affluenza : The All-Consuming Epidemic tremendously helpful.

Tags: simplicity, sustainability, money, stuff, affluenza