The Art of Living Simply

The older I get, the more I suspect that my life truly is not about me at all. The people I meet challenge me, the events of my life mold me, and the circumstances shape me… but to what end?

I have a sneaking suspicion that there’s more to life than just meeting my own needs and fulfilling my own desires. Deep in my heart, there’s a desire for more: a desire to make a difference in the lives of other people. From my next door neighbors who need help paying their electric bill to orphaned children in Africa who don’t have access to clean water, the need is great.

After years of seeing and observing the needs of people around me I realized that in order to make a difference, I must first make a lifestyle change. I must simplify. It became my goal to live simply so that others may simply live.

And as I began to trim away the excess, the true beauty of simplicity surfaced: its clarity ushered in refreshment and freedom. Through the simplification of my own life, I was able to separate the things that really matter from the things that don’t. It doesn’t matter how new or shiny my car is - what matters is the fact that it gets me from point A to point B. It doesn’t matter if my shoes don’t match my bag - what matters is that I have shoes on my feet. It doesn’t matter if my water comes from a bottle or from a faucet - what matters is that I have clean water to drink.

By shining a light on the essential parts of life, all of the excess begins to fade away into the shadows. Rather than forgetting about it altogether, we must take the opportunity to utilize it in order to meet the needs of those around us more effectively. Our money, time and resources are valuable to us, but even more… they hold the potential to make a positive impact in the world.

Over the past few years I’ve made a conscious effort in my life to be aware of those around me and to minister to them when I have the opportunity: both domestically and internationally. I’ve been amazed at the things that have truly impacted people: it’s always the things that seem so small to me.

I make frequent visits to my local Wal-Mart (sometimes on a daily basis) and I’ve gotten to know a couple of my favorite cashiers by name. We usually chat about life, family, and whatever I happen to be purchasing that day. One of them has teenage daughters and he’s always telling me about the drama that goes on at his house. I love being able to lend a listening ear and encourage him. I would hope that our conversations make a positive impact in his life.

Over a year ago, I began supporting an organization that does work in Africa. The money that I give on a monthly basis is the equivalent of about two cups of coffee I’d buy from Starbucks. But, in Africa, it provides 3 meals a day for 9 orphans. The same amount of money provides clean water for 7 Africans for an entire year. Such a small amount of money ministers to more people than I could ever dream of.

I recently moved into a new place and, as I was packing boxes, I noticed how much extra stuff I had. There’s no need for me to keep coats that I haven’t worn in over a year. There’s no reason for me to have 3 sets of twin-size sheets when I have a queen-size bed. I gathered up the things that I didn’t really need and dropped off an entire truckload at a local homeless ministry. Hopefully that coat and those sheets were given to someone who really needed them.

You don’t have to be a millionaire to make a difference in the world. You don’t have to be famous to make an impact. So many times, it’s the things that seem so small to us that really rock people’s worlds. It’s not about my education or my qualifications… actually, it’s not about me at all. Sometimes all it takes is a listening ear and a bit of pocket change.

Making a positive impact in the world is a tall order… and it can be quite intimidating. But I’ve learned that it begins with one small step in the right direction.