Simplicity of Trust and Faith in God

Life ain't easy. There's always something competing for our attention (work, school, the computer, friends, family, emotions, etc.). We're always occupied by something. Why can't that something be God? Why can't that something be the good works of Christ?

I recently went on retreat and was fascinated, yet again, by my response to the simple rooms of the retreat house. There was a sink, some shelving by the sink, a bed, a small nightside table, a simple plastic writing desk, and a rocking chair. And I would have been completely happy living there the rest of my life! Something about the simplicity, the joyful lack of complication and other STUFF, was so utterly beautiful and holy!

I thought to myself how much I needed to declutter my room at home. I am a pack-rat, and have so much stuff squirreled away in drawers. Yet, "He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick-no food, no sack, no money in their belts." (Mark 6:8). Why do we insist on bringing so much stuff with us on our journey with Christ?

There is a certain comfort one has about having things. Little kids have blankies, adults carry books and work with them everywhere they go. Yet, Christ asks us to love Him and Him alone. It is so easy to focus on all the STUFF - whether it's stuff we have to do, things that make us anxious, worried, or afraid, anything! The simplicity of Christ is the joy and peace of our heart - pure and unadulterated LOVE!

Imagine how simple life would be if we only focused on God. Car trouble? No problem! God is good! Family issues? No worries! God is good! Everything must be done for our benefit and for our good, because God is surely love, and therefore nothing can harm us! What a powerful, powerful realization to make and internalize!!! :)

And all of it is simple faith. Pure trust and hope-filled love of God. What mountains we could move with such a faith, what barriers we could break through! Simplicity breeds love of Christ and others! Why don't we try praying to Him a bit more instead of going online as a meaningless diversion for a few hours at a time? Why don't we try giving away that clothing we never wear instead of keeping it around for doomsday? Why don't we try disattaching ourselves from things that make us anxious, situations that we can't change, people that need time to heal? For it is only with this simple focus on God that we are able to accomplish ANYTHING in this world, and it is only that we are able to accomplish ANYTHING in this world by not focusing on this world. Tricky paradox, huh?

Let us pray that today we not allow all the distractions and temptations of this world to grab our attention! May we seek Christ always and everywhere, and follow Him with only a deep faith and trust! May we seek to, rather than embroiling ourself in conflicts and emotions, offer up all our cares and worries, fears and anxieties to Christ who died for our sins, so that we would not have to worry! Let us seek to proclaim the Gospel at all times, using words only if necessary, convinced that we are convinced that Christ is Lord through the incredible faith He has given to us!!! :)

In the Love of Christ through Mary,
Christina :)