HEATHER HOPES: Simple Enough?

By HEATHER CATHLEEN COX
Staff Writer
HeatherCathleenCox@gmail.com

Heather Cathleen Cox

Heather Cathleen Cox

Have you ever felt like you’re trapped in an unsavory existence, like life is zooming by while you’re stagnantly sitting in a stale-aired cubicle, staring at a computer monitor, praying for the weekend to arrive?

Well, recently, something similar happened to me. Suddenly, I began to think. I realized that each choice, each relationship, each project—and, essentially, each and every day I’ve lived—has profited me my reality, today. So, I asked myself the question: If today is all I’ll ever have, will this be enough for me to say I’ve lived a fulfilled existence?

The answer was no.

It was scary to admit that the life I’m living is not satisfactory. And making the decision to change my circumstance, well, that was downright painful.

In an effort to remove preconceived ideals passed on by popular opinion, family, friends, professors, principals, principles, theology and societal acceptance—i.e. the path most traveled—I began to ponder another serious question. If I could do anything, at this moment in my life, what would it be? I was amazed by how easily and freely I scribbled down the following:

  • I would sing simple songs, write simple messages, and create simple art.
  • I would live in health, cleanliness and beauty, in a simple home with people I love.
  • I would walk in love, simply connected to God, and try to do His work as best I can.

I learned that I truly long for a simple life. That’s all. And I know I’m not the only one.

From a psychological standpoint, many people would rather remain unhappy than have to implement change into their lives. And for just cause. Change is painful!

Often, people have no idea what makes them miserable…or even that they’re miserable. The same folks are inclined to adopt habits or hobbies (and otherwise enlist distractions) to help them temporarily forget their sad and dejected circumstances. These folks unintentionally strap themselves down with the chains of lethargy, apathy or depression. They robotically self-medicate with food, drugs, alcohol and other temporary forms of relief—unknowingly becoming addicted, blootered or otherwise numb to the pains of a life misspent.

Bishop T. D. Jakes said, “We change when the pain of changing becomes less than the pain of remaining the same.” It’s only now that I have honestly addressed my own truth—now that I have seen and admitted that I am never going to fit into an 8-to-5 world—that I understand what he means.

The bridge between finding oneself and losing oneself is actually a tiny tightrope. And trying to keep one’s balance on this tightrope is almost impossible.

I have always known I cannot be fulfilled by sitting in classrooms, workrooms or churchrooms (yes, I created that word). Other peoples’ rules about how I should live only complicate my existence, and I don’t want to miss out on my purpose because I allow my life to remain cluttered with everything I don’t need. I want to live my life simply. But living simply requires concentrated effort and diligent perseverance.

Today, I pose that we each have the power to design our own pleasant destiny on this earth, full of the things that matter most. We’re told in the book of John, chapter 15 that people who have a relationship with Jesus Christ are to live in the world, but not be a part of it. This means, not only should we not conform to the world, but we should also be visibly separate.

In John 10:10, Jesus Christ says He came to earth so His followers could have an abundant life. But the abundant life He mentions is not necessarily a life full of fancy trinkets and expensive bobbles that adorn us with an outward appearance of wealth. In fact, in Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus commands, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

A simple yet beautiful life is attainable for everyone who is willing to be honest enough to identify and change whatever is necessary in order to break free of society’s constraints.

 

Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2014/08/15/heather-hopes-simple-enough/

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