I've worn virtually three main outfits this month. They consist of: a hoodie, two pairs of jeans and two different sweaters: one black and one white. I've been pretty lenient with my "simple" wardrobe by allowing myself to wear different tank tops with the sweaters and I often wear scarves. So, maybe not three "outfits," but certainly three base outfits. It's been an interesting month.
I was initially worried (and I'll admit, still sometimes am) that people would notice what I had worn the week before. Lucky for me, I only frequent places about once a week, so I figured if I could remember what I had worn the week before, I'd just swap it out for a different outfit that week. The problem has been, however, that I cannot remember, for the life of me, what I wore yesterday... which is sad, seeing that I don't have many choices this month.
I've learned that people think about me and notice me a lot less than I think about them thinking about me and noticing me. I had the idea that people would think I was gross and extremely unfashionable if they noticed that I was wearing the same thing every single week... or day. And I suppose the key word in that sentence is if... if they noticed. They really don't. It's so easy to get caught up in what I wear, what I look like, what matches, what's clean, what's dirty, what fits well, what doesn't... when really, all that stuff doesn't matter.
Additionally, I've been cooking simpler meals and we've eaten many more vegetarian meals then we're used to and I've seen a decrease of $15-30/week in our grocery bill. It's crazy!! I've been so encouraged by this, thinking about where that extra money could... I mean, we could support another child through World Vision or Compassion by simply cutting down our meals in some way. Sure, we eat a lot more left overs than before, but we're also a lot less wasteful-- which has been wonderful!
I've been so convicted this month by this issue of simplicity. I would normally have said that I live a simple life. I do compared to many people I know, but I'm not sure that's enough to be considered simple. Sure, I don't go shopping, I don't have data on my phone, we have very limited bandwidth, we only go out for dates when we have gift cards, etc. But truly, none of these things really limits me in any meaningful way. Sacrifice is not built into my life. I don't sacrifice my comfort or lifestyle very much for the sake of others or the advancement of God's kingdom. I have access to absolutely everything I want or desire. I do not have to curb my desires too much and I get to enjoy a warm, furnished house; warm, healthy meals; warm, comfortable clothing, among so many other things.
I live in excess and had been so blinded by the surplus around me that I had come to believe that my excess wasn't that extraordinary.
Ah, I want Jesus to instill simplicity in me so deeply. I want to learn how to live simply so that others may simply live.
I was initially worried (and I'll admit, still sometimes am) that people would notice what I had worn the week before. Lucky for me, I only frequent places about once a week, so I figured if I could remember what I had worn the week before, I'd just swap it out for a different outfit that week. The problem has been, however, that I cannot remember, for the life of me, what I wore yesterday... which is sad, seeing that I don't have many choices this month.
I've learned that people think about me and notice me a lot less than I think about them thinking about me and noticing me. I had the idea that people would think I was gross and extremely unfashionable if they noticed that I was wearing the same thing every single week... or day. And I suppose the key word in that sentence is if... if they noticed. They really don't. It's so easy to get caught up in what I wear, what I look like, what matches, what's clean, what's dirty, what fits well, what doesn't... when really, all that stuff doesn't matter.
Additionally, I've been cooking simpler meals and we've eaten many more vegetarian meals then we're used to and I've seen a decrease of $15-30/week in our grocery bill. It's crazy!! I've been so encouraged by this, thinking about where that extra money could... I mean, we could support another child through World Vision or Compassion by simply cutting down our meals in some way. Sure, we eat a lot more left overs than before, but we're also a lot less wasteful-- which has been wonderful!
I've been so convicted this month by this issue of simplicity. I would normally have said that I live a simple life. I do compared to many people I know, but I'm not sure that's enough to be considered simple. Sure, I don't go shopping, I don't have data on my phone, we have very limited bandwidth, we only go out for dates when we have gift cards, etc. But truly, none of these things really limits me in any meaningful way. Sacrifice is not built into my life. I don't sacrifice my comfort or lifestyle very much for the sake of others or the advancement of God's kingdom. I have access to absolutely everything I want or desire. I do not have to curb my desires too much and I get to enjoy a warm, furnished house; warm, healthy meals; warm, comfortable clothing, among so many other things.
I live in excess and had been so blinded by the surplus around me that I had come to believe that my excess wasn't that extraordinary.
Ah, I want Jesus to instill simplicity in me so deeply. I want to learn how to live simply so that others may simply live.
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