starting over

Today I read a book that was food to my soul.  Plain and Simple- a Woman's Journey to the Amish by Sue Bender.  

For many years I thought the answer to my crazy, confused mind was to become Amish.  I read books about the Amish, visited the Amish country of PA and yearned to be "simple" and "plain". Except for the fact that I would have to be an Adventist Amish for I couldn't imagine giving up the Sabbath.

That was my dream- to have a community of Adventist believers that would live the Amish life-style.  Truly living the apostolic faith of early Christians- helping each other, living off the land and rearing our children in primitive Godliness.

BUT that dream would never happen.  Life did happen.  My husband was happily tied to his modern job in a nuclear power plant, friends came and went, bills accumulated, I was more and more frazzled each year.  Each year I sought ways to still the confusion and depression that threatened to overtake me.  But the more I struggled to find the way to peace the more I struggled in life.  

It seemed that every little thing became a monumental chore.  I resisted housework as it came between me and what I wanted to do- homeschool, travel, find my place in the universe.  

BUT after reading Plain and Simple I realize what I should have known all along- life's little, daily chores is what life is about.  In accepting the ordinary things and doing them well I will be content.  The Bible expresses these concepts in 3 verses- Matt 11:28 Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy burdened and I will give you rest.   Ecc 9:10 Whatsoever your hand findeth to do, do it with all your heart.  Col 3:23  And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto man.

So tomorrow I will begin to clean with diligence. Knowing that I can be content with whatever the task.  I will SLOW down and appreciate the little things in my life- a clean floor, an empty counter (my preference for decorative style),  a closet full of freshly ironed clothes- especially Rodger's uniforms.  I will pare down and simplify until what I have is all that I want and everything I have serves a purpose; to enrich my life by it's utilitarian function or it's beauty.