(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)
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| HOW DO WE GET OFF THE MERRY-GO-ROUND ? |
Why is it that
keeping things simple always gets complicated? Often it is because we do
not make room for a place of peace and harmony in which to begin our days.
As we continue our journey toward making a house a home I want
to consider simplicity.
Simplicity really matters in having a happy place to call home.
John Burroughs once stated "To find the universal elements enough;
to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning
walk or an evening saunter...to be thrilled by the stars at night; to
be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring - these
are some of the rewards of the simple life!
It all sounds wonderful, but how does one get there?
Simplicity starts when we make a conscious effort to create the time and space
for it. Just as your spaces get cluttered, so can your mind and your
time. I suggest daily that we must establish an hour of unscheduled time
out from the hustle and bustle of the merry-go-round world and come into a
quiet space within our own homes to be refreshed and renewed. This is
crucial for peace and harmony in the home.
A very smart woman named Victoria Moran once stated it this way: "A
simple life is not seeing how little we can get by with - that's poverty - but
how efficiently we can put first things first....When you're clear about your
purpose and your priorities, you can painlessly discard whatever does not
support these, whether it's clutter in your cabinets or commitments on your
calendar."
With this thought in mind, I want to encourage you to establish
a reading and meditating area inside your home. It could be just a desk area where you keep books, notebook and pen, or a comfortable corner chair with a side table and lamp and a place to lay aside your glasses and set your coffee cup down while you are reading. It could be as simple as the corner of your sofa, as long as you will not be disturbed while you linger there. Any little corner will do. Use your imagination. Try as much as possible to keep this a place out of the main part of the home and away from the noise and business of everyday life. When we go to this place, we want to be able to obtain and maintain uninterrupted time.
No matter how large or small your family may be, this is
something important to each and every one of us. I recently read an
article that advised everyone to “jump off the merry-go-round.” In
other words – get out of the endless circles of life that lead you nowhere.
It all sounds
very good in theory, but how can one really do such a thing?
Establishing a set place and time inside your home and using it every day
might just be the first step to spending a lot less time on this ever-turning,
fast-spinning carousel of life. Keeping this daily time alone is the
next step. Then, simply make a conscious decision to change your pace and
priorities by beginning to consider and do one little thing at a time until you
find yourself completely turned around and going in another more desirable
direction. Someone once said this a bit differently when they
stated; the way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time.
So what would be the first step to take if
your goal in life is to live a simpler, less complicated lifestyle, with more
focus and less distraction and waste?
For many of us the first bite of this elephant
would be to establish a consistent act of daily prayer and meditation within
our home. We would need to make this a priority and keep it the very
first part of each and every day of our lives. In other words, make a
habit to consider each day before it begins. Determine not to be robbed
of this important part of your day! This could be accomplished simply by
getting up one hour earlier. If you are not a morning person, let it be
the last hour of the night before you go to bed. Just sit quietly and
concentrate on the coming day. You will go to sleep prepared, especially
if some of that time is spent being thankful and counting your current
blessings as well as making plans for the future.
Just for comfort, indulge in a small treat. This will inspire you to relax and enjoy this time so that you are always looking forward to and anticipating the next time you will do this all over again. Persistence is key. Before you do anything else in your morning or evening routine, simply sit down and have a cup of coffee with God. After all, what could be more important? If you're an evening person, pour yourself a glass of wine or fix yourself some hot cocoa and go find your quiet space in which to enjoy it. I think Jesus set aside time alone and away from the world with God every day that he walked the dusty roads of this earth. No one could ever go wrong by deciding to imitate Jesus. God knows all those things that seem to keep us on the merry-go-round.
He also knows the direction He has planned and
purposed for each of our lives. If we take the time to listen He
reminds us of what we forget. Talk to Him about those
“merry-go-round” things, and ask for His help with them.
Afterward, simply sit still and let God speak to you about the other things
He has in store for your next day and/or the rest of your life.
Take it one day at a time. Let yesterday prove tomorrow. Build on
what you are learning as you go.
It might be good to write down the things you feel God is saying to you.
Do not forget them when the first spin of the carousel winds up again and
the music of the day begins to play. Read the scriptures and use your favorite author's devotional books. (I love Ann Voskamp; we all have our favorites.) In doing this myself I just recently read a quote by Ann Voskamp that perfectly described our goals here: "I don't really want more time; I just want enough time. Time to breathe deep and time to see real and time to laugh long, time to give You glory and rest deep and sing joy and just enough time in a day not to feel hounded, pressed, driven, or wild to get it all done - yesterday."
As you sit and
listen, pull out the scriptures that apply to your thoughts and write them in a
notebook. As you talk with God, just look up passages that will take you
deeper into the subjects that God brings to your mind. A good
concordance is essential. Keep one handy in the spot where you chose
to meet with God each day, as well as your notebook, a pen, your bible and your
reading glasses. If the outdoors make you feel closer to God by all means find a quiet little space in your backyard. Once you get all comfortable and in-tuned to yourself
and God you don't want to be distracted by having to search for what you might
need. There are cute patterns out there for crafting an organizer from
cloth to hold your notebook, pen and pencil, glasses, bible and interesting
devotional books. Make one to match your room, or purchase a handy little
decorative book bag for holding these things and just pick it up and bring with
you when needed.
Ask God to make
the message of His words and/or his messengers clear and plain to
you. Journal as you go, referencing the scriptures and the words
that God emphasizes to you from day to day. Some people like to use
illustrations in their journals instead of words, or they cut and paste little
pieces of artwork that describe what they are learning. Make it personal
and make it artful. Listen to meaningful music or sing yourself if you
like. Worship to God in song first thing in the day is awesome!
Write poetry if it helps you to express your feelings. Pay attention to
any patterns that begin to develop. Review the notes in your journal from
week to week and let God begin to paint the picture of your specific
purposes in life that He created just for you. Make a list of the
important things you see in this masterful new painting that He will put before
you each day as you pray.
Make lists of what is most important for your life. Jot down the
priorities as they come to mind and remember them throughout the coming day. From time to time as you meet to pray in those early morning hours, review your list and ask God to keep you on track. Make revisions to the list and add notes when He shows them to you. You will soon feel the clutter of your life begin to break off and leave. You will find yourself leaving old habits and developing new ways. A peace and order will come to you even in the midst of troubles and trials, even if you are working through uncontrollable circumstances.
The truth of the matter is that prayer renews and rejuvenates
our spirits just as sleep refreshes our bodies. You feel the adverse
effects whenever your body loses sleep for days at a time. This is
also true with your spirit if you neglect a daily routine of prayer.
So allow
yourself this little luxury first thing each morning (or whatever time works
best for your internal clock.) MAKE THIS SIMPLE LITTLE SPACE IN YOUR
HOME. Receive God’s blessings and direction for each day of your
life early. Start your day Christ centered before you go out into a
man-centered world. Remember the first step in living in a kingdom
is recognizing and getting to know the king. You must grasp what is most
important to the king and go in that direction with your time and efforts in
order to have a kingdom (or a home) that lives in peace and
harmony. Anything else is just another ride on the
merry-go-round.
