For Such A Time As This: August 2012

Now that the school year has started, I also started reading a new devotional. I chose Mindy Caliguire's "Simplicity". I'm really excited about it, and know that it will be good for me and my soul. In January, Jared and I usually talk about what our goals are for our family for the upcoming year. For the sake of the health of our family, we both agreed that this year, it would have to be stability and simplicity.

Stability: Both 2010 and 2011 were years of transition for us. We left Willow Creek because Jared found a position as Pastor of Outreach at Harvest Community Church. We made new friends, and at the same time, wanted to be intentional about maintaining old friendships (we had to figure out to make both these circles work!). We moved into a new home. Joshua started Kindergarten, and we had a new baby! Our world was a whirlwind, and while we changed and adapted to our new realities, I believe our souls were tired and just needed rest. So, stability is a priority for us in 2012.

Simplicity: Again, as we talked about our vision for our family, Jared and I started thinking about our family's values and created a family vision statement. And one of which is to live our lives counter-culturally. While society continues to whet its appetite for more and more, and families continue to fill their schedules with one thing after another, I just feel convicted to not fall into the trap of busyness (I get stressed just thinking about all this!). This past summer, I even had a friend send an email to a group of us and informed us that she had Week X and Week Y free, and if anyone could suggest any activities that she could sign her kids up for. I just think it's sad...not only for her, but for her kids. If you already don't know me by now, I'm all about creating memories with the kids and as a family. So, the thought of filling the summer by driving from one activity to another, is not my idea of fun. But then again, I think that's pretty normal for families nowadays. When I worked at summer camp, I remember seeing the same kids a few weeks in a row. I didn't get it back then, and I don't get it now either.

But I feel that if I don't start to harness the busyness of life, I, too, may get sucked into the "norm". With playdates, kids' activities, and church commmitments, it's easy to head towards a downward spiral of much ado about nothing and everything, if that makes sense. I think the turning point for me where I felt like I had to put a stake in the ground, came this summer when we went on our family vacation to Michigan with Jared's family. We had such a relaxing time, and there was a lot of joy in just spending time with each other. Even though there was a TV there, it hardly ever came on (maybe twice for a baseball game). We just had great quality time together. Driving home from that vacation, I remember having a conversation with Jared about feeling convicted about NOT overplanning things this summer. And now that summer is over, I'm commited to continue my quest of seeking out simplicity in my daily life.

Simplicity can be so life-giving, as experienced in Michigan! And simplicity can be soul-rewarding, giving one much time to connect with God, and being fulfilled in other non-material ways, like quality time with a good friend.

I love what Mindy Caliguire says in her book:

"The interior path of simplicity is one I must walk if I want to live out my days in deep alignment with the person God has created me to be." (Simplicity, p. 12)

And to do so, we are required to surrender our cares to God, to give Him our yoke and our burdens. Once we can release that to him, we can become single-minded in seeking Him and His kingdom. And this brings me to Mindy's next point. She quoted Dietrich Bonhoeffer's book The Cost of Discipleship, and to Bonhoeffer..."simplicity meant a singular, unwavering focus on Christ from which every other priority, relationship, and decision would flow." (p.15)

She goes on to say that:

"Simplicity means taking action to align one's exterior world with one's interior values and commitment to God...the obvious fruit of simplicity is a reduction of clutter on many levels: materially, emotionally, in our schedules or in our closets." (p. 19)

Simplicity is not the norm. It's an exception to the norm. And Christ calls us to be not of this world. I believe that simplicity can give me the freedom I need. A freedom in spirit, a freedom to be me. I invite you to join me in my journey to seek out this way of life. And as we journey, we can encourage each other and see how God is able to bless and grow us to live an abundant life as He intended.

So, are you ready? The first thing we need to do is surrender. Surrender our yoke and whatever is burdening us or wearing us down, both emotionally and physically.

And Mindy even mentioned setting simple practical goals to simplify our every day life, like cleaning out our closets. So yeah, I definitely need to clean out many closets. Maybe I'll start off with the girls' first! I'll let you know how I'm doing later this week! Please let me know how you're doing too, especially if you're setting goals for yourself. And let me know how I can pray for you.

For now, I'll go clean out messy closets, and finish the next chapter of Mindy's book. And I'll let you know what's next!

Yes, you read right...the first day of Kindergarten. I was going to blog about the first day of First Grade, but then I re-read my blog from last year, and well...even though the details are a little different, the sentiments stay the same. So, here's a glimpse of a mother's heart, my heart.

The night before the first day of Kindergarten...

We picked out your clothes...you wanted to wear your new football t-shirt.

We packed your backpack, and placed it by the door...I'm so proud of you for not complaining about not having a new bag, and you are perfectly happy with the Toy Story backpack from last year.

We snuggled into your bed, and read a new book about the night before kindergarten...you were so excited about all the new things that you would learn this year!

And we prayed together...for a good night's sleep and thanked God for the many blessings in our lives, especially for Kindergarten and that it's finally here.

I kissed you good-night as I always do, and as I turned off your light, you said to me "Mommy, I'm growing up! I can't wait to go to Kindergarten tomorrow!"

"Yes, baby! You're going to Kindergarten! And I'm so proud of you!" But as I said those words, I fought back tears, and I felt something squeezing my heart. For I never thought this day would come. Okay, I know it's just Kindergarten...but time is zooming by like the speed of light, and I can barely catch my breath before the next milestone appears. So, on this night before yet another milestone, I want to capture the moment and store it in my heart forever. I feel like this is the first step of me letting go, as if my pinky finger is being pryed open...slowly, but surely, I have to let you go.

But as I let you go, I know that you are not going alone. I pray that you will know that God is with you...and my heart goes with you, too.

So, on the morning of the first day of school, this is what I saw...