. . . by a conscious act of your will. . . . you will learn to rest in God both in your inner life and your outer life. . . .Your heart will start listening to a different pulse deep within you, and with joy you’ll begin to match your steps to that lovely, restful beat.
Anne Ortlund
I don’t want to forget that day when he was packing for his bi-yearly adventure; five guys, a week in the boundary waters surrounded by wilderness and solitude. I smiled, sensing his anticipation build as he organized necessities. What if we did life a little more this way? This thought amplified when the following day my mom mentioned an interview she’d seen on a morning show. A systematic method for decluttering featuring a new book titled, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up”.
There is nothing “magical” about tidying up, but as I began employing the methods I was learning, I gained momentum. I was shocked and embarrassed to see how out of control my consumerism had become. My mind reeled as one by one, I picked up items, realizing most of them I didn’t even like. I felt something deep within me begin to awaken. With intentionality, I began looking at everything I owned differently. My frequent “Target runs” now seemed counterproductive. I began searching, wondering if there was more to this concept I was beginning to formulate in my mind. As I searched, my eyes locked on the screen as I read words from Joshua Becker, stating, “Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of everything that distracts us from it.” Searching more, I discovered The Minimalists, their documentary, and podcast. I was drawn to this lifestyle; it all made so much sense.