I’m downsizing my life right now to move overseas. The irony is that I’m not clear on where we will be moving except in general terms of “East Africa”. Don’t worry dear friends, I’ll inform the world when I know something myself. Even in my not knowing, my “planner get it done” mode has kicked in. I may not know all that needs to get done just yet, but I can take on things that definitely need to get accomplished irregardless to where we move.
When I moved away from home for the first time in 2008, I squeezed everything into my Honda Civic (except for my 28”suitcase—thanks Pastor Jayde for squishing my overflow into your van :-) ). I slept on the floor for several weeks until I was surprised with a bed for my birthday. I repeated this same thing except with a different car when I moved in 2012. Every time God has provided for me down to the forks and towels that I needed (my husband says Amen). I never owned forks or towels or any furniture for that matter until Stephen and I got married last year.
Why am I saying all of this? Because as I am minimizing my life again from what I currently own and use and trying to fit most of my life into three 50lb bags, I’m realizing how much I LOVE my stuff. Stuff can be categorized as clothes, kitchen appliances, books, blankets, and decor. Becoming a wife has made me more attentive to the later and I love how our modge podge of second hand and in some cases 3rd-10th hand furniture pieces has made our house a home. I clearly don’t own a lot of fancy things, but even the simplest of things bring me joy and are hard to relinquish.
I’m realizing that looking back I can see the faithfulness of God and how I was content in every season of the past. This is an assurance that as I plan and prepare for the future, I will be content as well.
As I’m giving away most of my clothes and planning for essentials I need for Africa I’m asking myself continually, “is less really more?”. The strain of reducing what I own and stepping into the unknown doesn’t necessarily affirm that less is more. There have been numerous studies done on this subject of the psychological stress involved with ‘choice overload’ when people are presented with too many choices. It can be very overwhelming and people typically do well when given a less broad spectrum of choices. When I was engaged, I knew better than to try on a million dresses and waste too much time looking up gowns. Now I had the advantage of selling wedding gowns for years, but once I decided on my wedding dress that was it. It was the first gown I tried on because I had an idea of what I wanted and in comparison to 2-3 more gowns, I made my decision. No more searching for me.
Now I wish ALL of life was that simple, but it’s not. There is one area however that I feel defends the hypothesis that less is more. This is our relationship with God. I often pray, “Remind me what I said ‘Yes’ to”. This means that I continually need to remind myself of why I said, “Yes” to Jesus and why I said, “Yes” to making Him the Lord of my life. If I treat my relationship with Jesus like I do my wardrobe closet or refrigerator where I stand there with my mouth open in an overwhelmed stare at choices, I’ll close the door and not choose Him and His word.
I know that I need these reminders too for me to choose to “take up my cross and die to myself daily”. When Bailey is in full swing, she doesn’t stop as easily to listen to the Spirit’s prompting. When there are too many distractions and things that fight for my attention, my eyes don’t look up to the cross as long or intentionally. I know in the case of my spiritual life, less of me equals more of Him. Therefore with Jesus, less is really more. John the Baptist said, “I must decrease that He (Jesus) might increase” (John 3:30). If I truly want the Kingdom of God to advance in my life, I must be willing to decrease, so that Jesus might abound in and through my life.
For me in this chapter of life, it looks like preparing to move to Africa. This will mean less convenience, less “stuff”, less seeing those I love, but there is one “less of” that I’m looking forward to and that is less of me.
Instead of being overwhelmed by choices, I’d rather be overwhelmed by His glory. Instead of acquiring more “stuff”, I’d prefer acquiring more knowledge of the Holy One. I’ll gladly trade my more, to gain His more in my life. Until then, I’ll fill up my suitcases and await His instruction.
“You surround my heart with songs of rare belief. Creation groans and leans on You, How I with that I could too. Teach me more to be like You.”
“My heart longs to worship You, My heart longs to give You a pleasing offering. I am overwhelmed. I am loss for words to describe You.”-Rita Springer