It’s easy for people to look at a minimalist life and only see the “right now.” Some dear friends of mine used to marvel at the choices that Benjamin and I were making. Conversations would center around how many glasses or plates we had, which would be met with amusement as well as shocked disbelief, and then a confession of how many they had (always many times the amount). They were clearly interested in comparing ourlifestyles, as they were typically the ones to initiate these conversations. Sometimes guilt might creep in and one might confess that they “really should” get rid of some of their stuff or that they had whole rooms devoted to this or that.
This was where I always sought to shift tracks a little and offer encouragement. Benjamin and I live the way that we do because it is right for US. Our degree of simple living may or may not match anyone else’s. We never want others to feel guilt or shame. Our hope is always to inspire and encourage. The goal is to live intentionally and with purpose, not to have more or less possessions than anyone else. My friends would hear my words, but I could tell they still weren’t completely convinced and that maybe a tiny part of them still thought it was all about how much stuff you do or do not have.
One day I was going through my old binder of mementos and came across some photos that I knew would be great for a laugh with my friends.
My bedroom in high school was wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling physical and visual clutter. This photo only shows one corner of my room. The opposite corner had a poster and a bulletin board. The opposite wall from the one pictured here was completely covered with postcards of places my family had vacationed. Above a short bookshelf was a varnished puzzle, across that was a tall bookshelf with my collection of frog figurines. I had a whole mess of stuffed animals arranged in a corner near my bed. I could go on, but that paints a pretty decent comprehensive picture.
It seemed that finally I had found the perfect antidote to whatever internal feelings my friends might occasionally feel about their own homes. They absolutely loved the photo and description of my room! Much laughter was shared, and it seemed also some relief. One mentioned that now she didn’t feel so bad about her own home anymore!
Change takes time (not to mention commitment and hard work). It’s easy to compare ourselves to the people who captivate our attention and then to become discouraged because our own desired reality seems so far away. It’s much more difficult to instead find it within ourselves to forge our own way towards our hoped for destiny. Maybe sometimes all we need to help us bridge that gap and light a spark within is to remember that every one of us started somewhere else before arriving where we’re at.