There is a lot of talk these days about moving toward simplicity.  The call is often couched in tangible terms around doing less in the context of way too busy lives, or having less in the context of rampant consumerism that deceptively claims that our identity and our success is defined best by the material possessions we have OR in the face of the mass and complete poverty just beyond our doors but witnessed to within our doors.  As Chris Heuertz reminds us from the biblical text Isaiah, in his book Simple Spirituality, “the plunder of the poor is in your houses…” (92).

There is truth to be reckoned with at this level.  However, these really are only the beginning to responding to the call of simplicity.  Chris also writes, “Simplicity has become my posture and intention to live free from the bondage and control of anything other than the embrace of God.“(84).  I like that…not just because it sounds so wonderfully poetic and intimate, but because it resonates deep within me as the call of the gospel, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest…you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29, TNIV).

We must listen to the whole call of simplicity for it speaks to an orientation of rest…a rest-filled way of life that permeates every thought, every longing of the heart, every dream and desire, and every response to God and to others.  I feel deeply God’s invitation to explore simplicity within the framework of these things.   That makes for a very complex journey as the following excerpt from an email I sent to Chris hopefully illustrates:

“Three years ago I stood amongst cedar trees and springs in Washington State asking God to strip me of all the wrong perspectives, conclusions and expectations I had of him.  A week later I came out of a counselor’s office praying those same things concerning me.  And a few months later I prayed them concerning those around me.  The work continues (no doubt will be a life long ministry of God in me) and I think speaks into an orientation toward simplicity and yet I also realize speaks against being simplistic. When I first prayed that prayer, I had the picture of being a cob of corn from which the husks of wrong expectations etc needed to be removed so that the light of life could shine without hindrance.  I quickly learned that rather than these things being layered on top of me, they were interwoven in and through me and to get at them would also mean challenging and testing the strength of what was true in me.  The move toward simplicity is definitely not simplistic.”

The call to simplicity is itself simple.  The response to the call may prove to be more complex than we imagined, which is why it is best to listen to the whole call, including the fruit that it promises – rest for your souls.  Knowing that rest is what awaits us, may give us the courage to continue toward simplicity when the journey seems to become too complex to continue.