Simplicity

My fear of being on the world race is the outward appeal of adventure that it appears to be to onlookers. It is true that this has been an adventurous year. It is true that I’ve gotten to see volcanos and castles and beaches. It is true that my experiences have been a gift. A sweet a sweet gift that I can never repay.

What I want to clarify is that while I am grateful for the gifts in front of me, I want my life to not be defined by chasing experiences but by chasing the heart of a heavenly Father who is readily offering it to me. I don’t ever want someone to believe they need to be anywhere other than where they are to receive Gods love.

As the race is drawing to a close, I’ve started to think about what it will be like when I get home, and the kinds of things people might ask me. Friends will probably ask me about my favorite memories and the experiences that I loved the most.

As I reflect, my favorite parts of this year have been the simple things. In fact the things I have spent my time desiring or wanting have not been those big exciting experiences. I have spent this year getting excited about things like warm showers, and clean clothes, and grocery stores.

As I sit here and reflect, my favorite memories are walks on roads, sitting around tables, and cooking in kitchens. My team got the opportunity this week to do ministry in a different town and were placed in a missions house with just our team. Access to a quiet house, and a kitchen to cook meals in were unparalleled joys.

Scripture is full of words directly from Jesus pointing people towards a more simple existence. God warns us from holding onto too much money, or things, and just overall warns us of striving for things that were never meant to be ours.

“For God is not a God of confusion, but of peace.” 1 Corinthians 14:33

God calls us to rest, to ease of mind, to contentment in ALL things.

I like to travel. Obviously, I’m doing it right now. It’s not bad. Everything created by God can be a good thing if viewed in its proper place in relation to Him. It is when we disorder things, when we give things and ideas more weight than we give God that we start to lose our joy.

I’m posting this post to illustrate that while God is in the mountain tops, and the oceans, and the volcanos, my favorite places to be with Him are in the quiet corners, the hard conversations, and the daily meals.

“But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.” -1 Timothy 6:6-7

God loves ordinary things. Because I love God, I love those things too. The greatest thing we can have is contentment in the simple places in our lives.

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” -Romans 8:5-6

Grab a hot cup of coffee.
Look out the window and don’t do a single thing.
Breath slowly.
Eat a watermelon with a spoon.

For me, communion with the Father is more commonly found in the small ordinary moments. They are in fact some of the biggest moments, and some of my favorites.

Thanks God for every single quiet moment where you meet me where I am. Thank You for the opportunity to enter into peace, to set my mind on things above instead of earthly things. Good golly am I grateful for the breath in my lungs, and the little things around me today, amen.