Simplify

One of my mantras is “I am enough.  I do enough.  I have enough.”  It comes out in a different order sometimes, but it still means the same thing.  I don’t need to do, be or have more than I do, am, or own.  One more task on the list will not give me any more value than I already hold in God’s eyes.  One more outfit, one more fancy piece of furniture, one more book on my shelf, or one more cosmetic accessory will not give me any more value than I already hold in God’s eyes.  God loves me and sees me as a whole person, made in the divine image with a spark of God’s glory carried in my soul.  And so do you!  Tess Baumberger, a graduate of Pacific School of Religion, the alma mater of our beloved Pastor, wrote a gorgeous poem called Soul Lifts.  The first stanza says:

Wouldn't it be great if you could take a picture of your soul?
Then when your mother wanted to brag about you
she could show people the picture and say,
"That's my daughter, doesn't she have a beautiful soul,
all sparkly and many-colored and flowing all around her?"

That’s how God brags about us.  “You are my beloved child.  In you I am well-pleased.”  God sees how sparkly and many-colored we are.  We are enough.  We do enough.  We have enough. 

It’s not that complicated.  In fact, it’s rather simple.  We don’t need to complicate our lives with more because God simply loves us as we are.  Let God define us rather than be defined by what we have or do.  But we don’t get that message from the rest of the world.  Take a recent Kmart advertising campaign that says they “make Christmas count”!  As if it wouldn’t count without Kmart!  Yikes!  And that’s only one small part of the world message we get.  We hear we must look younger.  L’oreal says we should
Because we’re worth it”.  Are they the ones who get to define us?  CVS wants us to “Expect something extra.”  Be all that you can be.  Dell Computer’s slogan is “Get more out of now!”  Live the American Dream.   Best Buy says “Thousands of Possibilities, Get Yours Now.”  Don’t get me wrong.  I understand that we must continually work to recognize and bring out the gifts that God gives us so that we can honor that divine spark within us.  But more stuff isn’t going to adequately honor who we are or what we receive from God through Jesus.  We need to keep it simple saint!  KISS!

Simplicity is learning to be content in all situations.  Rejoice in the Lord.  Notice the small things that make life joyful, and focus on them.  Be grateful for who you are and your life circumstances by noticing the simple things that bring a smile.  Every morning our dog wakes me before 6 and I need to take her outside.  I could grumble about having to get out of bed that early and head into the cold.  Do you know what?  I see the sunrise every morning and it’s sparkly and many-colored! 

For a very long time the message God’s people have received is to find joy where you are, as you are.  In the Hebrew Bible, Isaiah 12:6 prompts his listeners to “Cry aloud and shout for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, For great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.”.  This is amid foreign invaders and political unrest.  And we hear about the prophet Zephaniah 3:14 speaking to the people as the Assyrian rule declines into a world of uncertainty.  He says “Shout for joy, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!”   In Luke 1, we hear of Mary, a pregnant unmarried teenager singing that her soul rejoices in God’s spirit. Paul told the Philippians that he had learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Paul can do everything through God who gives him strength.  And Paul said this from prison!  All through the Bible we hear of people rejoicing where they are:  The prophets are saying notice the little things and remember that God is near.  Be still and know that I am God.  Be still.  Let me give you strength. 

Be content with what you have.  There’s a great story that shares this message. 

An American businessman was at the pier of a Mexican coastal village when a small fishing boat, piloted by just one man, docked. Inside the boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The Mexican replied, "Only a little while."

The American then asked why didn't he stay out longer and catch more fish. The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs.

The American then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, senor."

The American said, "I could help you. I have an MBA from Harvard. You should spend more time fishing and buy a bigger boat with what you make from your catch. With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats. You would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor and eventually open your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution.

"You would need to leave this small fishing village and move to Mexico City, then Los Angeles and eventually New York, where you will run your expanding enterprise."

The Mexican fisherman asked, "But, senor, how long will this all take?"

To which the American replied, "15-20 years."

"But what then, senor?"

The American laughed and said, "That's the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions."

"Millions, senor? Then what?"

The American said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, then, in the evenings, stroll to the village, where you would sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."

The fisherman had enough, did enough, was enough.  The American didn’t recognize that the things that would bring joy were already there.  But they were.  And so the fisherman could be still.

Recognize the simple things that bring joy.  Rejoice in the Lord!  I will say it again, Rejoice in the Lord!  See the sparkles in the eyes of those around you.  See the many-colored faces that reflect the divine spark.  Notice the simple blessings that are everywhere.  Let’s do a little practice right now.  Close your eyes.  Take 3 deep breaths.  Now, look through your memories and find one where you felt truly and deeply content.  Where are you?  What is happening?  What is it that offers you that opportunity?  OK.  Come back to now.  Open your eyes, and hold onto that feeling of contentment.  I would bet that many of you, if not most, have memories of simple, beautiful moments. – a smile shared, connection made with creation, a simple event.  As we move through this time full of anticipation and anxiety,  se that memory to help you notice the simple things that are in from of you all the time because God is near.  Feel the KISS of God’s presence.   

During Advent, as we await the birth of the simple joy of Emmanuel, God With Us, savor those moments of quiet stillness and watch how the joy rises like yeast rises in bread.   In a few minutes we will be celebrating a remembrance of Jesus’ life – an odd thing to do as we await his birth.  It requires simply the cup and bread and a willing heart, nothing more.  It is another way that we can hear God’s message of we are enough, we have enough, we do enough, because we can do all things through God who strengthens us.

Hear God’s simple message: Be still and know that I am God.  The strength of God will help you keep it simple saints.  May we all feel the divine KISS of joy!  AMEN.