I found this picture today taken by photographer Jill Krementz of E. B. White writing. I love this spare, amazing barn-like room, don't you? It makes me want to have my own spare, amazing barn-like room.
I have the privilege of reading Lisa Samson's upcoming book Quaker Summer. It's got me thinking about stuff and clutter and consumption and shopping for the fun of it. Being in France in a hobbit house has helped me tremendously in my addiction to shopping, thank goodness, though I still miss Ross and T.J. Maxx.
Simplicity is something I've longed for as an adult. I want space, less clutter, more freedom---both in my home and in my heart. Jesus, help me to live clutter-free. In every way.
6 Comments:
I can just smell that soft, aged wood... ummm. A pillow under my bottom would be nice, though. :)
I would love a clutter-free life. Open. Minimalistic. But what would I get rid of? Ay, there's the rub.
I have a clutter-free life these days (though it wasn't originally my choice to end up here). Still...having lived with next to nothing for some time now (can you fit YOUR life in a Dodge Neon?), I don't think I could ever go back to wanting more again. The smaller my life becomes, the clearer I am able to see who I am. (That's a good news/bad news sort of thing, though. What if you don't like what you see?)
I'll be content someday with a small living space as long as there's a desk or table where I can write and a comfy chair for reading. Oh, and floor space for sleeping.
So...what can you get rid of? Well...what do you really need? (You'll find the "needs" list is rather small when you dig down into it a bit.) The rest is negotiable.
I hear ya on the getting rid of the clutter. Don't know how. BUT I'm starting to slow down these days, so maybe one day the clutter will disappear?
Camy
I believe that God solidified a call to the mission field for me one afternoon in 1998 by waking me up to the fact that I could say goodbye to "stuff." At the time, I lived in a small efficiency apartment--one small room with a tiny kitchen and a bathroom. I live in a bigger place now, but my husband and I stick to the "only-what-we-need" rule. Yes, we sometimes acquire something we find fascinating...but we have become quite content with the basics.
It's like the comment made by Steve above-"I don't think I could ever go back to wanting more again." I live in a world where the great majority of people live simply. They've taught me wonderful lessons!
I appreciate the take on the clutter in our hearts. So much junk can fill those spaces when we don't look to Him. I think I'll be meditating on that for a few days.
This week I'm going to purge again. We live in a smaller home by US standards, with only one closet. It's been good for us. We think twice about buying something, particularly because it would take up space. Maybe if Americans downsized, they'd experience this as well.
Off to purge.
Post a Comment
Home