Comments on: August collection – simplicity

By: The sacredness of everyday things

The sacredness of everyday things — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 07:02:49 +0000

[...] Barbara: The Muslim story about Jesus reminded me of an itinerant Catholic priest in Japan that I learned about from… [...]

By: Tess

Tess — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 16:53:57 +0000

Thanks Barbara. For me, Benedict’s teaching about the sacredness of everyday tools is the most beautiful key to his whole spirituality.

By: Barbara

Barbara — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 21:48:48 +0000

The Muslim story about Jesus reminded me of an itinerant Catholic priest in Japan that I learned about from a nun I had met. She told me he stayed with them for a bit and they offered to do his laundry. His underwear was so tattered that they gave him some fresh, new underwear. He strongly objected saying he wished to identify with the poorest of God’s people. I told her that the poorest of God’s people would be grateful, if given some fresh, new, clean underwear.
Simplicity, for me, would mean living in gratitude for all the gifts we are given, cherishing them and using them, as the Rule of Benedict says, with the honour due the vessels of the altar.

By: lisa

lisa — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 22:28:54 +0000

What a wonderful post. You perfectly expressed so many of the thoughts that have been bouncing around in my brain for months.

Thank you for all the links, I’ll be investigating them for a while. I think we have that book ‘Getting Things Done’ somewhere in this mess that is my home. Ironic isn’t it? I’ll have to search for it.

By: anita

anita — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 02:42:54 +0000

Thanks for the link, and for this post. I’m gradually digesting the thoughts and links . . . as I scramble to tie up a lot of loose ends before the end of the month. Simplicity? A goal, but not yet in sight. . .

By: Tess

Tess — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 13:36:25 +0000

Thanks Mel. I’ve been lurking on Bean Sprouts for a while and it’s good to hear this comment about what’s behind the way you live.

By: Mel Rimmer

Mel Rimmer — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 13:32:27 +0000

Thanks for the link to Bean Sprouts. I agree with what you write. Although I don’t blog about my faith much, my goals of self sufficiency, simple living, and living without harming the planet are all directly informed by my Christian faith. The natural world, and the life in me (and everything else) are God-given gifts in my view. If I gave a gift to a friend I’d feel hurt if they threw it in the trash, damaged it carelessly, or ignored it altogether, and so I try to live mindfully of the gifts given to me by my Creator.

By: Tess

Tess — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 18:32:47 +0000

Thanks Abdur (I like a good pun) and Me. I’m glad to hear this is helpful.

By: Me

Me — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 11:59:53 +0000

Thanks for posting this. Simplicity is important to me and is becoming more so.

I especially appreciate the resource: Zen Habits.

By: Abdur Rahman

Abdur Rahman — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 10:13:00 +0000

Peace Tess

Simply put, I really enjoyed this piece. No pun intended (OK, well, maybe just a little one)!

An interesting topic you’ve opened up and one I shall ponder on a bit more, insha Allah.

Abdur Rahman