Photo Credit: Susan Janet Voitel
Do not let your adornment be merely outward
--arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel--
rather let it be the hidden person of the heart,
with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,
which is very precious int he sight of God.
- 1 Peter 3:3-4
--arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel--
rather let it be the hidden person of the heart,
with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,
which is very precious int he sight of God.
- 1 Peter 3:3-4
Got back to Bacolod City yesterday. Worshiper picked me up from the airport, then we had lunch together at Pendy's before heading for home.
I've become so familiar with the mixed feelings of saying good-bye, and saying hello. Mixed emotions inside of half sad, half happy... missing a loved one, yet looking forward to picking up the pieces, and moving on, yet one more time.
I've been through the ins and outs of living out of a suitcase all these years. The truth is, I never get to fully unpack my suitcases.
This used to bother me a lot, but not anymore. Somehow, I've gotten used to living this way. It's a new lifestyle I have come to accept.
As my blog friend Annie would say, it's "a new normal" that I began embracing years ago.
This has done something good for me. Living out of a suitcase all these years has taken me deeper into a life of simplicity.
In a suitcase I pack just what I will need for a few weeks, or days, depending on how long I expect to stay at my destination.
When I left for Manila last April I packed enough clothes only for a two week stay and ended up having to use all those clothes over and over again for the unexpected three months that I found myself there. There was joy in purchasing a blouse or two, but always with the conscious thought that my closets back home are full of clothes, I really don't need any new ones.
Books? I'm a bookworm, and I must have over a thousand books in my shelves, about one third of them still waiting to be read. That's the truth. And yet, the bookstore continues to be my favorite place, and if I am not careful, I will always end up buying more books than what I can read in a lifetime.
This is now a season to simplify. To travel light. Buy only what is essential.
A motto I once shared in a previous post goes this way:
Wear it out
Use it up
Make it do
Do without
It is one motto that I continue to live by.
Simplicity is beauty.
The Bible tells us the story of Abraham, a man who was called out of the familiar comfort of a home, and with an obedient spirit, he willingly chose to live the simple life of a tent-dweller.
By faith, Abraham obeyed
when he was called to go out to the place
which he would receive as an inheritance.
And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
By faith he dwelt in the land of promise
as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob,
the heirs with him of the same promise;
for he waited for the city
which has foundations,
whose builder and maker is God.
- Hebrews 11:8-10
The same story is true not only of Isaac, and Jacob.
We read of Moses. Joshua. John the Baptist.
Jesus Christ.
I want the same said of me, a woman who waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
While we are on this earth, there is no lasting home or city that will truly satisfy. Just like Abraham, we can understand what it means to live as a pilgrim, someone who is only passing through.
Having this mindset, that nothing is permanent on earth, helps us to live truly simple, meaningful lives.
I came across this interesting quote by John Maceda from his book The Laws of Simplicity:
When I was in Swtzerland attending the Life Revision Retreat twelve years ago, our mentor and retreat coordinator Hans Burki would give mini lectures for only fifteen minutes at a time. He taught us the art of expressing our thoughts in as few words as possible. Within fifteen minutes, he would be able to say what needed to be said.
"The world is dying from verbal garbage and information overload," Hans would tell us.
Be brief, and direct to the point.
Don't say more than what you have to.
Where words are many, sin is not absent.
"Only a few things are needful." Jesus said that to Martha.
I don't think I have been always faithful to living up to what Hans tried to teach us, but it is a spiritual truth that can be applied to all of life.
Simplicity can be applied to finances. Buy only what you need. Give away what you don't need.
Simplicity can be applied to our relationships. Keep your accounts current. Be a willing forgiver. Choose to be unoffendable.
The list goes on.
Simplicity begins with simple obedience and a simple faith, going back to the basics -- loving God above all, and your neighbor as yourself! Seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness...
It means not being encumbered by religion and being weighed down by a head full of doctrines!
One of my favorite verses is the passage spoken by Jesus on how one can recover, and be healed, from burnout, Matthew 11:28-30. Eugene Peterson translates it so beautifully:
So this is the benefit of living out of a suitcase... learning first hand how to live a simple life, knowing where my priorities lie. I am forced to let my choices go through a sifter, and end up being the wiser for it!
I have never read John Maceda's book, so quoting some of his words doesn't constitute an endorsement of his work. But the excerpts are worth taking to heart. I love what he calls the champagne approach:
Use it up
Make it do
Do without
It is one motto that I continue to live by.
Simplicity is beauty.
The Bible tells us the story of Abraham, a man who was called out of the familiar comfort of a home, and with an obedient spirit, he willingly chose to live the simple life of a tent-dweller.
By faith, Abraham obeyed
when he was called to go out to the place
which he would receive as an inheritance.
And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
By faith he dwelt in the land of promise
as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob,
the heirs with him of the same promise;
for he waited for the city
which has foundations,
whose builder and maker is God.
- Hebrews 11:8-10
The same story is true not only of Isaac, and Jacob.
We read of Moses. Joshua. John the Baptist.
Jesus Christ.
I want the same said of me, a woman who waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
While we are on this earth, there is no lasting home or city that will truly satisfy. Just like Abraham, we can understand what it means to live as a pilgrim, someone who is only passing through.
Having this mindset, that nothing is permanent on earth, helps us to live truly simple, meaningful lives.
I came across this interesting quote by John Maceda from his book The Laws of Simplicity:
Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious,
and adding the meaningful.
When I was in Swtzerland attending the Life Revision Retreat twelve years ago, our mentor and retreat coordinator Hans Burki would give mini lectures for only fifteen minutes at a time. He taught us the art of expressing our thoughts in as few words as possible. Within fifteen minutes, he would be able to say what needed to be said.
"The world is dying from verbal garbage and information overload," Hans would tell us.
Be brief, and direct to the point.
Don't say more than what you have to.
Where words are many, sin is not absent.
"Only a few things are needful." Jesus said that to Martha.
I don't think I have been always faithful to living up to what Hans tried to teach us, but it is a spiritual truth that can be applied to all of life.
Simplicity can be applied to finances. Buy only what you need. Give away what you don't need.
Simplicity can be applied to our relationships. Keep your accounts current. Be a willing forgiver. Choose to be unoffendable.
The list goes on.
Simplicity begins with simple obedience and a simple faith, going back to the basics -- loving God above all, and your neighbor as yourself! Seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness...
It means not being encumbered by religion and being weighed down by a head full of doctrines!
One of my favorite verses is the passage spoken by Jesus on how one can recover, and be healed, from burnout, Matthew 11:28-30. Eugene Peterson translates it so beautifully:
…Walk with me and work with me
—watch how I do it.
Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.
I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.
Keep company with me
and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.
- Matthew 11:30
—watch how I do it.
Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.
I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.
Keep company with me
and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.
- Matthew 11:30
So this is the benefit of living out of a suitcase... learning first hand how to live a simple life, knowing where my priorities lie. I am forced to let my choices go through a sifter, and end up being the wiser for it!
I have never read John Maceda's book, so quoting some of his words doesn't constitute an endorsement of his work. But the excerpts are worth taking to heart. I love what he calls the champagne approach:
Become like bubbles in a glass of champagne,
floating upward in unexpected,
elegantly fluid ways.
How thankful I am that God has given me another perspective from which to view my life, from the perspective of a suitcase.
I love simplicity, for it makes the equation of life a lot easier to solve.
God is not a complex God; He reveals Himself to us in terms that can be easily understood.
Jesus taught his disciples in parables, using everyday life as the platform from which to speak, employing simple metaphors, analogies and word pictures.
Yes, it is simple elegance that brings out the hidden beauty of a thing.
Thank You, my dear God, for the opportunity to learn what it means to pursue simplicity, and begin living for what truly matters!
Living Out of A Suitcase 101
Thank You, my dear God, for the opportunity to learn what it means to pursue simplicity, and begin living for what truly matters!
Living Out of A Suitcase 101
17 comments:
I couldn't believe the timing of this post. We have been purging for so time and I spent today cleaning out a large closet and some other places sending most of it to Good Will. It is all stuff we have not been using, therefor someone else needs the benefit of using it. We have too much and definitely need to continue simplifying.
Blessings, andrea
What a beautiful picture and lots of good things to say about simplicity. I also liked what you said about a new normal. With our son in the military we have a new normal too - waiting to see him, then counting down the days until he leaves again.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts today.
Simplicity, that one word defines the lifestyle in which I long to return.
I don't have a problem living simply with the material things of this world. I know that although I am "poor" according to government standards, BUT I am richer than the majority of people I contact on a daily basis, because I have Jesus. And I am MUCH RICHER than the majority of the world, which lives in poverty!
The simplicity I long to return to is just loving Jesus, obeying Jesus and living in a perpetual state of the awe of His goodness! No religious politics, no manmade traditions, just being with Jesus and through that simple relationship, Love flows! Love that casts out fear; Love that speaks life to a weary soul; Love that heals diseases- spiritual, emotional or physical. Love that lays down my life for a friend.
This is the simplicity for which I long!
This is a timely post for me too. I've spent time the past few years getting rid of things, not only physical possessions, but taking emotional and spiritual inventory as well. I've been thinking about more work that needs to be done and this post inspires me to proceed.
Dear Lidj,
I feel we are leveling for the time being.
For the last year Gunnar and I have had one bag each packed up with necessities alying ready in the trunk of our car.
Always ready to break up.
Sometimes that has come in very handy.
I hand a long talk with my daughter yesterday. She is still not certain where her future studies will lead her.
She has prayed a lot, so have we, but it's a question of direction.
She is used not to have material problems.
Not that she's demanding or anything like that, she's just been given most of what she's wanted.
This summer she's been helping my mother for three weeks, and now she's scrubbing and painting our house, that has been done so nicely without a word of complaint.
I hope we have not fed her stones instead of bread.
I think I'd like to adopt your words and use it in a blog,
"Wear it out
Use it up
Make it do
Do without"
So much wiseedom. I need to alter my focus not only for the future, but for eternity.
Thanks for sharing.
Hope obedient One is doing well. She's in my prayers.
From Felisol
I would have to agree with Andrea! I have been on a organizing kick for the last week and have been getting rid of unwanted stuff. I love the simple approach and it's time to get back to basics!
I love the music on your blog. It's so soothing to listen to while I read your post and then leave my comments!
Love and Hugs ~ Kat
Dear Lidj,
Relieving to learn that Obedient One is coming home to relax for a while.
It's hard to see the beloved learning to fly. Personally I'd prefer them to stay in the nest for a long, long time.
I do realize that to become a strong person, the young needs to learn their own strength and weaknesses as well.
(Even so, it was only yesterday I offered Serina to stay home for a year and study her if she wanted. An offer she rejected.)
I think we must be like the eagle mothers, flying underneath, ready to let them rest on our wings when they need. Someday, maybe we are the ones who need support.
From Felisol
I long for a simpler way of life ... an unencumbered and less cluttered world, both at home and in my spirit.
Thanks for some much needed inspiration along these lines.
peace~elaine
Lidj, dear friend, your words always strike the center of my heart!
You are so right! If only I could grasp the fullness of the truth and need for simplicity.
The beauty of simplicity is its freedom to live the real abundant life.
I am sometimes afraid to let go completely. Too focused on things, I fear missing out on something. How wrong I am!!!
It is through loss that we gain!!!
Beautiful post; inspiring, deep wisdom! Thank you.
And thank you for praying for my dear husband and me as we still await test results.
Take care, and enjoy your settling time.
Blessings,
Andrea
Ah - you're already back home. Well, I felt impressed to pray, so ... God knows the application. I know my life needs simplifying. I'm looking forward to learning that when the time comes. I have learned in the past year the extreme beauty of just being. Sitting outside. Reading a good book. Doing a simple hobby in a quiet house. So very restful in a world cluttered with so many 'do dos' and so much sensory overload. I should figure out how to do that in this time. I've been so emotionally spent (and agitated) lately, that relaxing like this hasn't seemed possible. Perhaps I should make a concerted effort. That would be good.
Lidj,
What an awesome post. Simplicity is beauty! Learning to live, truly live, in the "now" with what God has blessed us with and not be affected by the media and stirrings of influence from the whole world! What a beautiful and simply elegant life we would have. Thanks for sharing this!
Christy
Dear teacher Lidia,
Now I fell I have gone back to Bacolod City with you.
I'm agree simplicity is beauty.
miss you
Oy
You wrote another gem that shows God shining through your life. It's wonderful to learn lessons as we walk through this life, and the Lord is the perfect teacher.
Thanks for sharing your journey with the rest of us.
Can you imagine the simplicity of life in the Garden with God? Our desire to return to this simple life must originate from what life was supposed to be like--tending the garden, the animals, and meeting with God in the cool of the evening. Perfect. Thank you for the wonderful testimony here.
Does simplicity start with submission?
Repurposing what we have been given in the context of:
Wear it out
Use it up
Make it do
Do without
I so relate to this motto.. and can apply it to all areas of life .. from cooking to clothes hanging in the closet .. this certainly applies to my collection of three pairs of shoes, eh? :)
May the Lord continue to use you to shine His light into the darkness.
Hugs,
Cathy
I'm not sure how I got so behind on reading your blog, but I love this post! This, too, is something that God has been doing in me...showing me the beauty and value of less...how having many things sometimes devalues them.
And then, since I also write, I definitely have come to understand the value of saying more with less. How often do ministers lose their congregation's attention through rambling words, long before they reach the heart of their message? (I think I might need to remember that on my own sometimes-rambling blog. ::grins::)
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