Welcome to Three-Peat Tuesday! Simplicity
Building from my recent book UNBEATABLE! Seven Pillars of Personal Excellence, each blog will contain three P’s: Pillar, Principle and Practical, all geared towards nourishing you on your personal and spiritual growth journey.
Pillar: The Illusiveness of Simplicity
“Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me.”-Martha complains about her sister Mary in Luke’s Gospel
Principle: The Wisdom of Simplicity
It’s the time of year when the above Mary/Martha dilemma plays itself out in many homes. Whether we’re dealing with siblings, spouses, in-laws, roommates or parent/child contexts, Christmas time not only brings out choice delicacies but also family squabbles.
Is everyone doing their part of household cleaning? Are the chores evenly divided? Are responsibilities properly distributed? These are fair questions. But are these the right questions? I take my cue from Jesus’s response to Martha’s complaint about her “lazy” sister. Among other things, he simply said this: “…only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better…”
Only one thing was needed. Just one thing. This was, and still is, radical wisdom. When Martha, with the noble desire to show hospitality and service, became internally unsettled and anxious, Jesus advocated simplicity. He said to her, in essence, “Focus on one thing. Calm your anxiety, quiet your soul, still your heart and do this one thing: pay attention to me in meekness and patient confidence.”
How has December been for you? Undoubtedly, this will be a December like no other with all that 2020 has brought to mankind. In the midst of all your activity this month, will you consider the path of simplicity? Simple meals. Simple gifts. Simple shopping plans. Simple cleaning. Simple expressions of gratitude.
The meaning of the season does not have to be lost if we simply focus on him who was born to give light and to be light for the world. Only one thing is needed.
Practical: Choosing Simplicity
Identify the one thing or the one person that you cannot neglect this season.
If you were inspired by this blog, please consider sharing it with one other person today. To learn more about these pillars of personal excellence, read UNBEATABLE! which is now available on Amazon in print and as an e-book.
This Post Has 2 Comments
I am learning simplicity is the way to go. I have too many things and my life is built around at times what other people value. This has helped to make me rethink to choose less and from the less I will get more by keeping it simple.
Thank you, Michelle. Simplicity is one of those underestimated values. I, too, am seeing its importance in living a productive life.