Essentialism

Stepping Out of the Cyclone

by Caroline on Feb 2, 2021 category Essentialism, Faith, Intentionality, Minimalism, Simplicity

“In the rush to return to normal, use this time to consider which parts of normal are worth rushing back to.”
Dave Hollis

Reflection

Before the first bands of light crept into the black sky on Saturday morning, I immersed myself into the lyrics of the song, “Something Heavenly” by Santus Real. As I reflectively went back in time, I began to write…

Eight years ago today, something shifted within me. Eight years ago today I also awoke in the darkness, but in contrast, today I awoke in peace. That morning the sound of the weather alert, wind and rain, and a sense of urgency to take shelter, broke the sleepy silence; in that moment something inside me stirred. As I hunched in my basement, beneath a roaring train, holding my 5-year-old to my chest, I knew what really mattered.

I see now, the restoration of our home is only a glimpse of the renovation God has done in my heart—renovation leading to restoration. That morning, as the tornado stripped away our roof, my heart’s first layer also became exposed. The realization struck me, we aren’t meant to live, tucked neatly within our four walls and behind picket fences; with the chaos hidden inside. I have since, removed layer, after layer, after layer, of my life, I am now on the other side of the destruction. We have removed not only physical possessions, but also expectations, commitments, debt, and consumerism. I have surrounded myself with what really matters, and what remains, is peace.

Urgency

How do I portray this? My heart aches to share what I have discovered. I see it around me, many in the cyclonic life; the swirling around of everything, except for what truly matters. Let it fall apart. Let the roof come off of your house. I would do it all again in a second. Be willing to be exposed, and real. It’s underneath it all where we are alive. All of these things we think are life are only a semblance that we have constructed. Overfilled schedule and lives are tearing families apart. In a rush to create life, we are losing it! Our society has it all wrong. They tell us- go, go, go– do, do, do –work, work, work – and this becomes a shell of life.

I discovered soul guidance, hidden in Isaiah 30:15, where God tells His people that it is “in quietness and trust ” (NIV) where strength is found. In the King James Version He says, “In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.” Over and over again He urges us to stop; “…but you would have none of it”, He says. Although He discouraged their constant motion, they still said, let’s get our horses, let’s fight, let’s run, let’s go…. and like so long ago, He is still longing for us to stop and find our strength.

Stillness

If we clear the chaos even for just a moment, we will hear Him say, your strength, your sanity, your life, is right here with Me. Right here, in the quiet place. But this quiet place, we must create. Quiet and stillness won’t just happen like the inevitable silence that comes immediately after the passing of a tornado. Creating silence feels scary, I know, I’ve been there, but it’s necessary to begin cleaning up.

You can’t begin restoration in the middle of the cyclone of life. First, the roof, your first layer, must be torn off. And then, when the silence ensues, you have a choice to pause for a moment and decide, is where I’ve been worth rushing back to? Sit in that silence a little while and listen to your soul. Is it time for a shift in direction? Time for a cleanout, a cleanup, or a major renovation? This choice is yours, and it’s worth considering.

Movement

So, embrace the chaos of your life, and use it as a warning signal; alerting that that you can’t go on this way. Get in the driver’s seat and be intentional with your time and energy. Life is going to just keep happening, with or without your input; but with intentionality you can end up where you thrive. Surviving may be part of the process, but it’s not the end-point. Be brave enough to live, and start forging your path through the destruction toward what really matters.

Be Inspired – “Say I Won’t” by MercyMe

Exposed, and This is Who I Am- Part Two

by Caroline on Dec 4, 2020 category Essentialism, Faith, Intentionality, Minimalism

Every person has an outlook on life; he is seeking his highest joy. Outlook determines outcome…If life is to be rich and meaningful, then our joys must be the highest possible and Jesus tells us that the highest joy possible is to see God.
Warren Wiersbe, Live Like a King

A Constant Practice

I didn’t expect it to take me almost three months to write this follow-up post, misled into thinking I first had to complete my quest to address every single item in the dreaded closet to continue. Again, as I have sorted through so many things, I recognize this is a continual process. Not something to be completed, but a constant evaluation of what I allow to remain. I have rediscovered that learning to live intentionally involves so much more than just getting rid of stuff.

Retrospect

I frequently moved during my childhood; therefore, I spent a lot of my time packing and unpacking items, yet I don’t really remember them. As I went away to college, I took only essentials, leaving excess left behind. I never returned home to appreciate boxes and drawers filled with what I had abandoned.

Although the items left behind no longer held value to me, I just accepted them back into my household, box by box, as I entered adulthood. Instead of intentionally addressing the items, I began to reinforce the habit of thoughtlessly keeping and collecting things, placing value and sentiment onto lifeless items. I was unknowingly creating idols. Giving lifeless items importance, allowing them to steal my space, and hold me down, ultimately allowing them to steal my freedom.

Shifting to Intentionality

Breaking this cycle requires determining the reason for keeping or removing each thing. As I strive to live intentionally, I have to contemplate what I really want out of life? I know my resolution- Freedom. To be free of stuff, free of idols. Desiring to live open and honest and free, my actions, aligning with my values. Leading me to a place to establish a home to nurture family, and growth, and relationships. Home, a place of respite and a place to give my daughter wings to fly- experiencing life without managing stuff. To give each of us the ability to go anywhere, untethered, free.

It’s the fear of leaving the comfortable that held me back for so long. But, as I grow spiritually, I realize this fear is beginning to fade. Because of frequently practicing letting go, I was recently able to experience significant growth. I had an item, which I was more attached to than I had realized.

My Bible, which I had received from my Mom 22 years ago, had played a substantial part in building my relationship with Jesus; full of sentiment and built-in devotionals, my favorite verses marked, and well-worn pages. My Bible, which I thought was an integral part of my connection to Christ. And then, God asked me to give it away. Let go. Follow Him. And I did. The freedom and the growth I have experienced, already reaching so far beyond what I could have imagined! He tells us- Give- Store your treasure in heaven- Come- Follow Me… Trust Me.

Centrifugal Motion

Everything I have must continually be evaluated for purpose, recognizing changing circumstances. I can use each thing to learn from and share or allow it to become an idol. Treasure in heaven can not coexist with treasure on earth. The more I release back to Him, the more freedom I feel. The more I learn to trust, the more alive I become! Experiencing a taste of heaven in the midst of earth. Trusting Him has nothing to do with our bravery and sacrifice. It is the full acknowledgment of what He can do in our lives and what He has already done. We must take ourselves out of the equation, or else we will miss the point. I want nothing in my life that I can not let go of, in trust. He has shown me the beauty and the peace of releasing the comfortable.

Yes, our outlook determines the outcome —every day, a new opportunity to reevaluate what is truly important. I am learning I have to acknowledge, anything that takes me away from what really matters is only a distraction. Anything that takes away from peace in my soul, and time with God or His purpose, is an idol.

Through the removal of things from my life, I have discovered who I am. As Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 15:10, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect…”

There is only one relationship that really matters, and that is your personal relationship to your personal Redeemer and Lord. If you maintain that at all costs, letting everything else go, God will fulfill His purpose through your life.
Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

Exposed, and This is Who I Am- Part One

by Caroline on Sep 11, 2020 category Essentialism, Intentionality, Minimalism

It’s been four years since I began the process of decluttering, minimizing, and determining what is essential in my life. As I have experienced this process, I have evolved and grown in ways that I never expected. With repetition, letting go becomes less painful, and the lightness I feel afterward is freeing. The more I recognize I am in control, the more I allow myself to let go, and I am empowered—release, potentiating a cycle of change. I now recognize that the feelings of freedom that have surfaced have become a craving, essential to my wellbeing. I’ve tasted it, and there’s no turning back.

Four years is a long time, and finally, I have recognized the reason why paring down has taken me so long. I have neglected to address everything fully. In my adaptation of minimalism, I tried to justify overlooking the hard stuff. I thought I could do this halfway. Time and again thinking, this is enough paring down, this stuff I don’t want to address right now isn’t hurting anything. But then I realize, it still produces heaviness.

It’s time that I acknowledge; I have a basement closet full of items that I’ve attached sentiment to, and kept “just in case”. No longer can I pretend that they’re not stealing my peace and taking me away from what really matters. We’ve chiseled away so much, and I realize if I don’t do this all the way, we will be missing out.

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