I have been reading about simplicity lately. It seems that all of the high-tech complications with which we have filled our lives are not all that healthy for us. In the end the best things for us are those things which God has provided -- fresh air, fresh food and fresh living. But what does that mean exactly?
The best form of living is to simply live -- to know and be known, to love and be loved, to hear and be heard, to celebrate and be celebrated -- to experience the simple elements of a sterling life. The best food we consume are vegetables which are no more enhanced or complicated than they were thousands of years ago. The best air is unpolluted fresh air as crisp and clean as it was when Christ walked the earth. The further we inundate our lives with technological advancement, the more disconnected we become from the beautiful experiences that make us human.
So does that mean that we should plunge ourselves into ultra minimalist living by throwing out our computers, cars and air conditioners? Heavans NO! Instead we need a greater focus on a concept of elegant simplicity. We need to incorporate technological advancements seamlessly into our lives so that instead of altering our environment, and ourselves, the technology does its job without interfering with our ability to be human. And we are seeing improvements in that area. People are being encouraged to get out in nature, even if nature is the street on which you live. Human experience is found in the butterflies and fire ants, the elegant dog and the smelly skunk, the squirrels and the rats.
We are finding that meditation connects us to ourselves in simplistic ways: a walk at lunch time around the block brings experience to our minds; and gazing at a sunset is not just for hopeless dreamers but a clear sign of a fully connected soul.
As I type on my computer, I am feeling fully human knowing that my life experience isn't found in the silicone microchip or HD screen, but instead it is found in embracing all that makes us human -- happiness, glee, beauty, pain and suffering. Indeed, the entire spectrum of the soul is necessary to bring fullness to our lives.
I encourage all to find their way to live a life of elegant simplicity, it will truly be a sterling experience.
