How simple is simple?

I have always loved simple. Penn State football uniforms. IU basketball uniforms. One remote for all the TV stuff. And now as my family is growing, I would love to have a simple family life. But I am finding that the process of simplifying our life is not all that simple. We have so much stuff we do. Church, friends, watching our favorite teams, spending time with kids, getting away together, just relaxing. Then there are always the complications when a kid gets sick, or something unexpected comes up.

I think Jesus dealt with the same thing. I always wondered why Jesus told some people not to tell anyone about the miracle He had just done. At the end of Mark 1 Jesus meets a leper. Out of compassion he heals the man and then asks him not to tell anyone. However the man went and told everyone. The result was that Jesus was then surrounded by people and could not even publicly enter a town. He had to stay out in the country to teach. His life was much less simple because this man told everyone what Jesus had done. I think that this is why Jesus did not want the man to tell others. Jesus longed for a simple life. At various times he withdrew from the crowds purposefully. As a father I see an internal struggle within Jesus that I identify with.

Jesus wanted a simple life. However, he did not want a dis-connected life. He met a man whom he could help. His desire to impact people was stronger than his desire to maintain a simple and low key profile.

I too want a simple life. But I don't want to have a life that is dis-connected from the world Jesus died for. I know I need to spend time with my family, but I also need to spend time impacting those around me.

For us today I think the challenge is to create a system where we focus on the priorities of our life. Our families need us. But our families need to see us engaged in ministry as a normal part of our life.

So I am going to keep doing the most complex task I have ever encountered: to make my life simple enough to focus on the priorities God has given me.