Simplicity has turned out to be one of the most complex subjects I’ve ever studied. On the long drive back from Texas this past weekend, Becky and I talked more simply about what exactly we mean by “simplicity” than we ever have before. Here are two questions we asked ourselves and the whittled-down answers we came up with:
Why live simply?
1. To free up resources which should be spent on those presently in need. Less time, thought, and money spent on ourselves means - in theory - more time, thought and money that can be spent on others. Example: Getting rid of cable frees up enough money to meet the needs of two children every month and enough time (about four hours a day) to play a game with the kids, go on a date with my wife, exercise, take a real Sabbath, and get to know the neighbors.
2. To prevent need. The less energy, natural resources and store-bought stuff we use, the less negative impact on the environment, health and economics of others. Example: There is said to be a link between my consumption of stuff, the deforestation of South and Central America, and drought in Sub-Saharan Africa.
3. To invest in personal health - mental, spiritual, relational and physical. Living with less stuff, fewer chemicals, and more time increases the odds that we’ll also enjoy more spiritual dependence and focus, less stress, more and stronger relationships, greater freedom in decision making, and improved overall health. Example: Not having a text plan or a phone that allows me to text easily keeps me fully present in conversations, making those I’m with feel listened to and important.
How do we live simply then?
1. Subtract most/all of what’s not needed from our lives. Step one: Take stock of where our time, money, and resources are currently spent and how much stuff, time and money we presently have. Step two: Determine what “need” is. It helps to see people living on the bare essentials firsthand. Step three: Commit to subtract excess from our lives incrementally and tally up the savings of time, money and environmental impact as we go. Example: This month, get rid of cable and count up the hours and cash saved. Next month, nix caffeine and count the savings. In the winter, plant a garden and notice how much better it feels to eat more chemical-free food. Take baby steps and measure the difference they make.
2. Add most/all of what we have to the lives of others. Simplifying saves money and time. Put money aside for the needs of others: The friend who can’t afford counseling, the neighbor who can’t afford medical care, the crisis pregnancy center that needs a sonogram machine. Put aside time to invest in people. Choose not to use all the time once wasted watching TV on getting more work done now. Spent that time with family, friends and neighbors, alone relaxing, on a hobby or serving somewhere. Interestingly, if I don’t have the time to be with people I won’t be aware of the needs of people.
Even more simply put: Take less. Give more.
keith said:
We’ve been taking steps like no tv, decreasing church activities, eating healthy local food directly from farmers we know; but I still feel overwhelmed most of the time. I don’t have enough time to chill with my wife. We rarely have people over or hang out with our neighbors. More changes need to be made. Not sure what. We have two young children. Maybe that has something to do with it.
rachel said:
i love this, shaun. i love it because i hear a lot of talk (from myself included) about all this good stuff that people want to do. we have all these great ideas about living simply and, from our excess, giving to others in need.
but i get really sick of not seeing it happen. in others ... AND in me.
and here you go, making it clear, simple, short, and practical. anyone can do this. ANYONE!! it’s wonderful :D thanks!
ps
i’m subscribed to your blog through google reader, and somehow in the transition from your page to my reader, it removes all formatting and pictures. the pictures aren’t such a big deal, but it’s really hard to read bullet points, paragraphs, lists, etc., when there is no formatting. it’s actually nice for me, because it forces me to come to your actual page, but the downside is that i love to put a lot of your posts on my “shared items,” and anyone else who reads that will have trouble. anyway, i didn’t know if anyone else has the problem and if there is anything i can do to fix it? thanks :D
anne jackson said:
amen
chris and i have started the baby steps...we don’t have cable or internet at home (except for the 6 bucks we have to pay to get the local stations so we know where the tornadoes are)...that made our “bundle” package go from 160/month to 6 bucks.
we have also been trying to spend less than 50/week on groceries (down from 100) and we spend our weekend out walking around exploring or reading or talking instead of lounging around watching TV.
it has been SO refreshing...and it is almost addicting...we are constantly asking..."where can we spend less, give more, get rid of....??”
Zach Nielsen said:
Thanks for the this Shaun. Great challenge and reminder.
zach
Ed said:
I think this can be tied directly to the parable of the talents. Investing our talents or blessings to make an increase for the Kingdom.
My wife and I have been trying to live simply for a few years now. Our pastor did a message on putting margins in your life and that really made us look at how we allocated our life and resources.
Wayward Now Home said:
Thanks, Shaun. This really challenges me to look at my life in a perspective that I rarely hold. I would really love to simplify my life. If I had the bare essentials for survival, my Bible and Christian literature, my guitar and a notebook with a pen, I think that would be great.
Unfortunately, I’m in college and I still live with my parents when I’m at home. Most of the decisions (such as cutting cable, buying less things, etc.) aren’t mine to make. But I hope that I will live simply when I get out there on my own.
Texas in Africa said:
Richard Foster’s Freedom of Simplicity was hugely influential in my thinking about these things. I read it while living in Nairobi ten years ago, an experience that rocked my comfortable world every single day.
Here’s my question: shouldn’t we apply these principles in the church as well? Do we really need HDTV’s when other Christians are starving to death?
eugene said:
shaun,
this is good stuff.
as a pastor, it was easy and accessible to be talking about these things but realized that we were more in love with the idea of compassion, justice, and simplicity…
needed to repent and actually take steps towards actions.
we are all so blessed. what would the world look like if we just did our small part.
The Secret Life of Kat said:
Great post Shaun.
“Live simply, so that other might simply live.”
That’s a quote painted on one of the walls of my church.
Kelly @ Love Well said:
This makes simplicity sound so ... simple. Was the lead sentence a cliffhanger for part 2?
Emily said:
I love this post. Such a simple reminder of how simple it can be to live simply. Well said and super encouraging.
faithful chick said:
The cable thing is a big one. I’m embarrased to think of how much we love to have cable TV available in our home.
I’m definitely going to chew on that one today.
Looking forward to more posts on this subject.
said:
For everyone who has alredy given up or is contemplating giving up cable, remember that next February, your local non-cable TV stations will begin broadcasting digitally. Your analog television that gets TV stations for free over the air absolutely will not receive a signal anymore. Kiss the rabbit ears goodbye.
If you are not a cable or satellite subscriber, you can retrofit your existing TV by buying a digital converter box. The boxes are around 50 bucks and you can get them most places that sell televisions.
The federal government has coupons that you can use to get $40 off the boxes, so it’ll only cost you about ten bucks a box.
Here’s the link to the site to get your coupon. https://www.dtv2009.gov/
Order your coupon and buy your box well before February. Even if you don’t watch much TV, get a converter box if the only set your own is analog and not connected to cable. Weather emergencies like tornadoes and hurricanes happen. And you have more instant information options with television than you do with radio.
Love from the Washington bureaucrat
Jenny Wheelis said:
Shaun,
I have been lurking for a while… and I really enjoy reading your blog. One thing that continues to force us to live simply is living in another culture. When we moved to Albania, we only brought a 1/3 of what we owned and sold most of the rest. And we still have SO MUCH MORE that ALL of our neighbors. It forces me to reevaluate every day. Thank you for these insightful posts.
J
free local dating said:
if we have to simplify the simplicity, then its not really that simple
counseling said:
looks pretty simple to me
Mike @ Gas Credit Cards said:
Shaun I couldn’t agree with you more. Today we live with far too many luxuries than we really need. Why is it so complicated to be simple? I don’t know. You would think it would be easy but I guess with a culture we live in they influence people into believing having more is better, even though it’s not.
JAi said:
The examples given by shaun and Becky are wonderfull,to be followed by everyone in this world!
Hope this comes true one day!
Thanks dude for this avid post!
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