Ember: I keep coming back to this post because this has been on my heart for over 20 years ~ ever since I first ran across Richard Foster's Celebration of Simplicity. I have been picking away at it that long. Many of the choices we made about where we raised our family were based on the need for a simplier lifestyle than urban living usually offers. It some ways that has complicated things. I have had to travel for sport & music when I got children who needed to be involved in those things. The contrast between here & there is acute though & I will always be glad we chose as we did.
:0) I think the choice in question is not so much opting for this thing or that thing, as choosing in all circumstances to remain free. It means holding onto the thing inside us that allows us to walk away from any deal because we have chosen to be who we are. And if in doubt, throwing the ballast overboard the better to run with the wind. NB - Richard Foster's excellent books were 'Celebration of Discipline' and 'Freedom of Simplicity' - my publisher (who picked my title!) evidently felt I was on a similar track!
I shouldn't post late at night; I'm always making boo~boos like that. ☺ Yes, I have read both. Impacted me tremendously. At least in some areas that I would have headed any way: make~up; fashion; conservation; growing our own vegetables; owning less of everything; walking lightly upon the earth.
I do find that where we have chosen to live is helpful. Nature is beautifully simple & it doesn't excite in me a desire for *things*; rather the opposite because it highlights what is truely valuable: clean air; beautiful surroundings; God's creatures. We choose certain difficulties in order to maintain certain freedoms we value more. Yes, once I was a hippie. I guess it still shows sometimes.
I think your point about Nature not exciting in you a desire for *things* is a very important one. It's a bit like wholefoods not setting up the cravings that processed foods do. I have also noticed that I turn to *things* for solace when I am lonely: if I have companionship (not too much, solitude is vital to me too!)then I am content with a much lower rate of consumption (food, possessions, anything).
4 comments:
Ember: I keep coming back to this post because this has been on my heart for over 20 years ~ ever since I first ran across Richard Foster's Celebration of Simplicity. I have been picking away at it that long. Many of the choices we made about where we raised our family were based on the need for a simplier lifestyle than urban living usually offers. It some ways that has complicated things. I have had to travel for sport & music when I got children who needed to be involved in those things. The contrast between here & there is acute though & I will always be glad we chose as we did.
:0) I think the choice in question is not so much opting for this thing or that thing, as choosing in all circumstances to remain free. It means holding onto the thing inside us that allows us to walk away from any deal because we have chosen to be who we are. And if in doubt, throwing the ballast overboard the better to run with the wind.
NB - Richard Foster's excellent books were 'Celebration of Discipline' and 'Freedom of Simplicity' - my publisher (who picked my title!) evidently felt I was on a similar track!
I shouldn't post late at night; I'm always making boo~boos like that. ☺ Yes, I have read both. Impacted me tremendously. At least in some areas that I would have headed any way: make~up; fashion; conservation; growing our own vegetables; owning less of everything; walking lightly upon the earth.
I do find that where we have chosen to live is helpful. Nature is beautifully simple & it doesn't excite in me a desire for *things*; rather the opposite because it highlights what is truely valuable: clean air; beautiful surroundings; God's creatures. We choose certain difficulties in order to maintain certain freedoms we value more. Yes, once I was a hippie. I guess it still shows sometimes.
I think your point about Nature not exciting in you a desire for *things* is a very important one.
It's a bit like wholefoods not setting up the cravings that processed foods do.
I have also noticed that I turn to *things* for solace when I am lonely: if I have companionship (not too much, solitude is vital to me too!)then I am content with a much lower rate of consumption (food, possessions, anything).
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