The Joys of Simple Living

I am convinced that simple people live happier lives. When all is said and done, and I am (Lord willing) looking back on my life as old men do in movies, rocking back through the memories of love, adventure, and loss, I hope my mind comes across more attempts at joy than at vanity. I want life. I want peace. And nothing reminds me of that more than a quiet afternoon, sipping on a cup of joe and a good book about living simply, with a strong and passionate purpose.

Simple is beautiful. My neighborhood Walgreens is only a few blocks from my house. And I go there quite a bit, in search of toiletries and such. It's really nice to have a place like that so close. But the nicest thing about the place, isn't the fact that it takes only 5 minutes, round-trip, from my house, or the fact that you can get pretty much anything you need there (as a single guy, of course). I also enjoy it for the simple woman who stands (or sits when she's tired) at the register, ready to greet me with a smile and a simple story about her day and how I could save money by purchasing two Snickers bars instead of just one.

I don't know much about this woman, other than that she devotes a great deal of attention and detail to the things I would normally care little about (such as pointing out the great deals to be had by using a Walgreens' coupon for this or that). And she communicates with a simple bluntness that is at once noticeable, but not off-putting. Her personality is endearing, if you ask me. She is "simple" and yes, she is "special", but not just by our cultural standards. You see, she brings me joy. In the little things she says. And for the frankness in her speech. And the crooked smile that comes across, once she realizes I am not looking to buy a Snickers bar or two or more of them, but that I just want my twelve rolls of toilet paper and a nice few minutes of honest conversation about the weather, the beautiful gift of live, and the pleasant feeling of being able to swipe my own card without signing for anything (since it's under $25 dollars). And because she cares so much about these little things, I keep coming back.

In a way, she makes my day, time and again. She is simple enough to take joy in the small things in life. I want that. I envy that in her.

And as I sit here, I pray that my eyes through which I process life, will become like hers, so that I can greet the world with openness and transparency, simplicity and frankness, honesty and goodness. May the greatness and mercy of Abba grant me the joy of simple pleasures. May He allow in me the freedom to forgive and the desire to roam the fields of the earth with childlike passion. May He heal my wounds that have suffocated my heart, and allow me the pleasure of accepting His love with open arms, and childlike simplicity. That I might be ready to live in the steadily-supplying provision of Abba Father.

This is my prayer..."Abba, I belong to you."