One Thing...

Good Morning,

I just returned from a week's vacation, living out of one suitcase, reading Stacy's postings on Living Simply! It was so fun to read about 'stuff' and 'busyness', knowing I was hundred of miles away from my stuff and I didn't miss a thing (except my toenail clipper, which I was reminded of daily as I walked the golf course!). I didn't have a packed agenda and my 'busyness' consisted of strolling the streets in the evening just people watching. That's the life!

But it wasn't 'real life'! Now I am back to the daily grind, needing to make a living and keeping my 'stuff' in order and I reflect back on all that Stacy wrote.

Living Simply isn't a new challenge. I think women have always been quick to multi-task and try to keep many balls in the air. Jesus talked to his friend Martha and said, " Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing."

Jesus wasn't talking of going on vacation with one suitcase. He was talking about pursuing one thing...seeking the Kingdom of God. Having an undivided focus.

Clifford Williams summarizes my thoughts,
"We possess singleness when we are not pulled in opposite directions and when we act without wanting something further for ourselves. Our inner drives do not conflict; they are aimed in one direction. The motives we appear to have are the ones we are really have. Our inner focus is unified and our public posture corresponds with it. We are not, in short, divided."

If the secret of life is pursuing one thing, maybe my stress comes from my own divided heart, not the busyness of my day. It's a tough pill to swallow, but even as I lived out of one suitcase, I found myself wanting more and desiring to 'buy' my happiness during my vacation. Even without 'stuff' and a long 'to do' list, I had a yearning.

Until I addressed my divided heart, I wasn't going to find the simple life...even while on vacation.