I continue to read and listen to John Muir’s books. Although he sometimes lingers too long describing rock formations or reciting scientific names of the wildlife and flowers, when he focuses on his adventures in the wilderness, especially his interactions with others, I am captivated. I also enjoy reading about his nature-based spirituality. Muir found…
Frequent readers know that I am trying to live a more minimalist lifestyle and euphemistically call the process of purging my excess belongings “simplifying” and even “destuffing”. This week, I wrestled again with the shifting moods of my materialistic inner being. The mood on my day off was: get rid of the stuff you have…
At the moment I have 5 college-aged kids staying with me. They are Vacation Bible School camp counselors from Outlaw Ranch, South Dakota. The counselors lead camp for a whole week, in the City Park. We join forces with 5 other local churches to bring the counselors here each summer. I love having the counselors…
I wrote recently about my process of “Destuffing“, or getting rid of all the junk that is either in closets or around me every day. I got motivated again last week after having coffee with a friend. She said, “I don’t have anything in my house that I don’t use”. Wow! Although I have done quite…
Today was finally the big church rummage sale. I am happy to say that I took over far more TO the sale than I brought home FROM the sale. I took boxes and boxes of stuff and brought back only one with someone else’s junk. That has not been true in past years; however, I…
While in Ohio helping mom move, I muttered often under my breath about all the stuff she had accumulated. I judged Mom and patted myself on the back for being much more sensible about stuff. I silently thanked the “Stuff Empress of the Universe” that I am not a hoarder. I don’t have piles and…
I believe that the complexity created by modern life robs our days of meaning. I believe that we drift towards alienation and despair unless we make a determined effort to find purpose and meaning in life. Viktor Frankel, writing in the mid-twentieth century, believed, “even in the most absurd, painful, and dehumanizing situation, life can…