I am finding that was easier to maintain a life of simplicity than to move to a life of simplicity. When one does not have much, nor the means to obtain more, covetousness is probably a bigger temptation than materialism. However, that does not mean a poor person cannot practice selfish hoarding, holding on too tightly to what little we have. We can all, poor and wealthy, learn from the widow’s gift (Mark 12:41-44). When I was in college, buying a sandwich from the McDonald’s dollar menu for homeless person allowed that person to eat as well as I did. If my father bought me a coat, I had no problem giving away my “old” coat because I really did not have the space to store a large wardrobe.

Since that time, I have gotten married, gotten a good job, bought a house, and collected lots of stuff. Now, we are trying to simplify, and finding that it is not a simple task. Here are a list of tips and struggles we have found so far. Hopefully, they will be instructive to others working towards simplification.

• Communication is important when simplifying as a family. If one person goes through the house like a bulldozer, others are going to be hurt and possibly resentful. One person may not know what object has emotional attachment for another person. People need time, and to see the sacrifice of others.
• Go ahead and shed the easy stuff just to get moving. For us that meant cable television and the cell phone data plan.
• Start trying to move the hard stuff early, in order to hopefully avoid a roadblock. My family would like to get down to one car, but selling a car can take time, so even though we do not need to sell the car just yet, we have already listed it.
• Recycle. One of the things we are slimming down is our extensive library. We took a multi-pronged attack on the library: selling some on Amazon.com, listing some on Paperback Swap, taking some to a local used bookstore, and giving some away. Now we have reduced our books, made a little money, have credits for new books, and blessed a few people.
• Have a garage sale. We have not done this yet, but it is on our calendar. We have a designated “to be sold” pile building up, and, so far, everything in the pile we are okay with simply giving to Goodwill if it does not sell.
• Be generous.
• Throw stuff away.
• Value by use and memory, not by cost or who gave it to you. I use my computer every day; I am keeping that. I am also keeping the communion service set from my wedding. My 12-string Ovation needs to go (I am a bass and piano player, not a guitar player). Also, realize that people often give gifts of what they like, or want you to have, rather than what you need. Try not to offend anyone, but do not be afraid to let gifts go. Finally, remember everything depreciates. Just because I paid $600 for my digital SLR does not mean it is now worth $600 five years later because now at that price point I could buy a digital SLR that also shoots HD video. It is valuable to me as long as I continue to use it.
• Instead of fighting over whether something should go, take multiple passes. A person may be resistant to release something the first time, but by the fourth time it may lose its attraction. If it has not, then it may be important to keep.
• Have goals and timetables. We have a date set for our garage sale. We have a goal of having one room and closet completely empty and clean no later than August 31, because we have a student coming to live with us on September 1.
• Be ready to sacrifice. At some point you will be moved or asked to let something go, that you want to keep. The Son gave up everything so that we could have something eternal (Philippians 2:4-8). All the material things we fill our houses with are temporal. I would rather fill my house with people, love, and the presence of God, than books, electronics, and mementos.

This house looks the best
When it’s not cluttered with opinions
When only the words from the Landlord’s mouth
Have absolute dominion
From His lips, His lips alone
I want to furnish my humble home
I want wisdom in the walls
Understanding will weatherproof
I want love to be the theme
From the basement to the roof
Not enough room for second hand news
Can’t build this house on human how to’s
I wanna see His touch in every room
I wanna know this house is built in truth
I wanna live in a simple house (from “Simple House” by Margaret Becker and Charlie Peacock)

The posts in this series are:

• Simplicity with Media
• Working Towards Simplicity
• Simply Relax
• Needful Things
• Gift Giving
• The Simple Life

©2012 Paul Tillman