Returning to Simplicity

As I write this, we are currently in the season of Lent. 

In many Christian traditions, this is a time when believers are called to give something up or abstain from something during the days leading to Easter. Often this coincides with some sort of fasting and other spiritual practices. 

And in previous years, I’ve participated in that in one form or another. I’m all for following some sort of spiritual practice routine for a set number of days, hence why I decided to keep a form of praying the hours for a month. 

But this year, I find myself craving something different. Something simpler and less rigid. 

It can be easy to get caught up in doing all the things and trying all the spiritual practices. I mean we live in the day and age of these incredibly elaborate and lengthy morning and evening spiritual practice routines. (If you don’t believe me, just try searching for it on youtube and see what pops up).

Now there’s nothing wrong with wanting to wake up at 6AM and drink your coffee while gratitude journaling and following that up with meditation or prayer walking or whatever else you so choose. 

But it’s also okay to find even the idea of that overwhelming instead of nurturing and restorative.  

And I think that’s where I find myself this Lent. 

Maybe you find yourself in a similar space and feel the need to do a bit of a spiritual audit and change up your routine. If so, here are some questions to answer before you go any further in the process. 

Ask yourself:

•  Where am I really at in this season of life? 

• What’s going on with me mentally? Emotionally? Spiritually? Physically? 

• Are there any spiritual practices that I’m doing only because I feel like I have to, not because they’re nurturing my faith?

• At this moment, what do I need spiritually? Emotionally? Mentally? What are ways that I can support myself through my spiritual practices? 

• What do I feel drawn to or want to explore? 

As you go through these questions, you may find that some practices aren’t nurturing your faith in the ways that they used to. That’s alright. You may need to do things differently for a time and then go back to them later. 

You may discover that, like me, you’re trying to do too much for where you’re at emotionally and mentally. In that case, you may want to overhaul your entire routine. Stop and consider what things you want to keep doing (if any) and what you want to step away from for a while. How can you create more simplicity in your approach to spirituality? 

Based on how you answer those questions, pick one or two practices to try out for a while. Go for those that you’re drawn to or that you think will support you and bring about a sense of restoration. 

Try out those practices for a time, but don’t be afraid to re-evaluate. 

Personally, this Lent it’s more of a day by day thing for me. I know I’ve committed to at least ten minutes a day doing some sort of spiritual practice. That feels good and doable for me. But what that practice actually is will vary from day to day.

I encourage you to consider doing the same. 

Some days, you might have a ton of energy and mental space. On those days, a life-giving spiritual practice for you might be reading a spiritual book or doing a deep dive into scripture. Or going for a long prayer walk outdoors. 

Other days, you might be stressed or overwhelmed or exhausted. On those days, maybe just sitting in the stillness and silence is what you actually need. Or you could spend your set aside time reading a psalm or two out loud. 

Having a spiritual practice routine doesn’t necessarily mean you must do the same thing in the same order every day, unless you really desire that level of structure. More often than not, it means showing up and being consistent. Taking the time out of your day to spend with God in some form or fashion. 

In the end, that’s what’s most important. Not necessarily how you choose to go about it. 

My last piece of advice is this. As you go through the questions above and create a routine that works for you, let Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28-30 guide you.   

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” 

The Greek word that’s translated as weary in this passage is kopiao, and it refers to the idea of toiling or doing labor to the point of exhaustion. God isn’t asking for you to run yourself ragged doing all of these things in an effort to please God. 

No, you are called to find rest. To let go of the need to toil and labor endlessly. To lay down your burdens. To take up the yoke that Christ has because it is easy to bear. 

A yoke is the wooden bar placed on the necks of oxen or other animals so they can work together. Now, I’m not an expert in farming or animals, but I did play a lot of Oregon Trail growing up, so I’m familiar with the mental image Jesus is trying to create in this passage. 

He’s not saying do it all by yourself. He’s asking you to let him help you carry whatever it is that’s on your shoulders. The reason the yoke is light and easy to bear is because God is the one next to you, helping you to keep moving forward. 

Your spiritual practices and how you approach them should give you the space and freedom to let go of the things that are weighing on you. To find peace and a bit of ease as you remember you’re not stuck by yourself struggling through life. God is there. Waiting to spend time with you. To give you rest. 

So my challenge for you is this: consider what you can let go of or simplify this Lent. Be open to little ways of finding rest and restoration in God. And most of all, let God help you carry whatever is on your shoulders right now.