Book #5 - Freedom of Simplicity

Richard Foster shows us how to live this lifestyle in his books Freedom of Simplicity and Celebration of Discipline. This book makes me want to strive to live a life with Freedom of Simplicity.

I for one know it's not an easy task to let go of the known and go into the unknown but learning to live in simplicity is one of the greatest gifts you can give to yourself and others, it brings peace and fulfillment not to rush and accomplish but to do one thing at a time, whether it's eating, vacuuming, telephone calling, working at the office, or being with the kids or grandkids. One thing at a time done with simple awareness is worth doing many, many things without awareness. Once you let go, you don't have to prove anything to anyone, you lose that competition drive, status quo, you don't have to live on the edge, you become more compassionate, more centered, more intuitive, more alive to yourself and others. You worry less and love more, you fear less and trust more, you live for the moment, because that's all you have. You make less mistakes and better decisions. You need less and enjoy more. Live simply so that others may simply live.

I believe our culture is at war with simplicity. Material neediness is almost demanded of us. We need new stuff -- techno-toys, fashions, cars, amazing new whatnot. Something that really stood out was "Stress the quality of life above the quantity of life. Refuse to be seduced into defining life in terms of having rather than being. Cultivate solitude and silence. Learn to listen to God's speech in his wondrous, terrible, gentle, loving, all-embracing silence...Value music, art, books, significant travel. If you are too busy to read, you are too busy... Learn the wonderful truth that to increase the quality of life means to decrease material desire..." Christian simplicity is not merely a reinvention of self focus, a stripped-down version of self indulgence. It is both carefully inward-looking and thoughtfully outward-looking, always seeking to need only One.

This was a good book on voluntary simplicity. This one offered more of a biblical perspective than I've seen in a lot. The first couple of chapters are really great, as they offered some great insights about how God views wealth and our responsibility to others. It's good information, too, because in our society, we are mostly concerned about how we can get more money to take better care of SELF, not others. Other countries are a lot more community oriented. In later chapters, though, the book shifts gears a bit and shows us some things we can do to embrace simplicity outwardly and inwardly. The application part of the book gets pretty challenging, and not that this is a bad thing, but it can be a little intimidating and feel a bit "burdensome". The wise reader, however, will know what to apply, and what is fitting for his or her life, and the direction God is leading him or her in.

This book does a great job of explaining why many of us may feel drawn to the simple life. What would Jesus do? This is more than a book about how to save money, buy at thrift stores, and save the earth. It speaks to the soul. The author speaks of inward simplicity which aligns our lives properly with God. He then refers to outward simplicity, which relates us in a fitting manner to persons around us. He closes his book by referring to corporate simplicity in the church and in the world. In an age characterized by materialism within and without the church, this book gives a fresh new perspective on focusing on things eternal that cannot be bought or sold. This book gives a delightfully profound look at the need for simplicity in life. It forces us to look at the way we live, use our time, and relate to others. How desperately we need today to discover new creative ways of caring and sharing with any in need.

I want to be able to say: “I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content.” Phil 4:11