Indianapolis First Friends Quaker Meeting
Pastor Bob Henry
August 23, 2002
Proverbs 13:7-17 (MSG)
7 A pretentious, showy life is an empty life;
a plain and simple life is a full life.8 The rich can be sued for everything they have,
but the poor are free of such threats.9 The lives of good people are brightly lit streets;
the lives of the wicked are dark alleys.10 Arrogant know-it-alls stir up discord,
but wise men and women listen to each other’s counsel.11 Easy come, easy go,
but steady diligence pays off.12 Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick,
but a sudden good break can turn life around.13 Ignore the Word and suffer;
honor God’s commands and grow rich.14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
so, no more drinking from death-tainted wells!15 Sound thinking makes for gracious living,
but liars walk a rough road.16 A commonsense person lives good sense;
fools litter the country with silliness.17 Irresponsible talk makes a real mess of things,
but a reliable reporter is a healing presence.
Last week, I talked about finding gratitude in those “priceless moments” and honing-in on our priorities during this ongoing pandemic. As I allowed my own words to speak to my condition this week, I found myself being drawn back to our Quaker S.P.I.C.E.S.
Since many of the distractions and selfish ambitions have taken a back seat during the pandemic, I believe more of the essentials have been allowed to arise and retake their prominence in our lives. Suddenly, we are seeing the importance of empathy, character, integrity, and morals in our world, again.
Yet, one subject that I have been noticing more and more taking center stage very quietly and almost unnoticed is simplicity. Something we as Quakers consider one of our distinctives.
Now, some may think the pandemic has forced us into a more-simple life – but this just may be for the better.
In my preparation for this sermon, I found a plethora of instances where people were talking about the importance of simplicity during this ironically complex time.
One article stated that it would be in simplicity that we would “find some sort of salve, some kind of security as the crisis rages on.”
For me personally, one of the first things that drew me to be among Friends was its counter-cultural appeal. It was Quaker Richard Foster’s book, “Freedom of Simplicity” that caught my attention early on.
Please note, it was not the early Friends dedication to plain dress or speech that caught my attention, which has almost completely become a historical artifact in our day, but rather the “grace of simplicity” that Foster described that drew me in. Foster wrote,
“People need the truth. It does them no good to remain ignorant. They need the freedom that comes through the grace of simplicity. And if we are to bring the whole counsel of God, we must give attention to these issues that enslave people so savagely.”
Simplicity is both a counter-cultural and grace-filled response to our comfortable lifestyles that have removed us from being able to see our neighbors, creation, and often the Divine in our lives.
The “salve and security” that simplicity brings is not just for me, personally – but when I embrace simplicity – it impacts my enslavement and that of my neighbor.
Foster says this is a call for prophetic simplicity in our day. He says,
“We need voices of dissent that point to another way, creative models that take exception to the givens of society.”
And why…because…
“Simplicity enables us to live lives of integrity in the face of the terrible realities of our global village.”
When you and I embrace a simpler life, it begins to affect the world around us, because we begin to remove our selfish ways and personal naval gazing and embrace the empathy and concern for the needs and deficiencies of our neighbors and creation.
If we want to truly build God’s beloved community here on earth, we must embrace simplicity, admitting that our excess, and the continued pursuit of it, continues to divide us from each other, from our planet, and from our spiritual lives.
A simple life is one that can focus on what is truly important. Or as American Friends Service Committee points out…
In contemporary terms, Friends try to live lives in which activities and possessions do not get in the way of open and unencumbered communication with others and with one’s own spirituality. Clearing away the clutter makes it easier to hear the “still small voice” within.
Richard Foster urges this clearing so we can better hear – he says,
“And so I urge you to still every motion that is not rooted in the Kingdom. Become quiet, hushed, motionless until you are finally centered. Strip away all excess baggage and nonessential trappings until you have come into the stark reality of the Kingdom of God. Let go of all distractions until you are driven into the Core.”
Richard Foster may again be prophetic for our time. He has just described what I sense we are experiencing or beginning to experience during this pandemic. The pandemic is causing the excess baggage and nonessential trappings to expose our core.
Now, this may seem a bit overwhelming at first, but just like when I clean out my garage – it is not the doing that is the hard part – but rather it is getting started.
So, to help us start this process of considering the impact of simplicity in our lives, let me return to an earlier point. I mentioned that the pandemic has forced simplicity on us.
Nathanael Yellis makes an important comparison. He says,
“Being forced to live a calm lifestyle could be frustrating;
CHOOSING to live simply is freeing.”
Yellis then gives us some practical queries and categories to consider when trying to choose or embrace a more calm and simple lifestyle. He points out 5 major categories to consider: Environment, Time, Money, Parenting, and the Arts with a few queries to get you thinking.
I know I have found these very helpful as I have been pondering my own simplicity and its impact during this pandemic.
Let’s begin with regarding your ENVIRONMENT: value what’s local.
Ask yourself…
Where do I live or want to live?
How can we live most of life near that place?
What kind of commute is sustainable?
Second, consider your TIME: value presence.
Ask yourself…
With whom do I spend time? Why?
How much extra time do my commitments cost?
What could I insource?
What kind of job allows the time I need elsewhere?
Am I on devices too much, and if so, would a digital disconnect help?
(yes - even during a pandemic where this is our main communication, it may be a needed aspect of simplicity for you and others).
Third, consider your MONEY: value generosity.
Ask yourself…
How can I make my resources available to others?
How can I keep spending low?
Which investments now will pay off later?
Does my spending reflect my overall priorities?
Four, for those PARENTING: value slow growth.
Ask yourself…
What’s the right amount of unstructured time for my kids?
How can I keep commitments light to preserve the calm they need for open-ended exploring and curious learning?
Where does all the technology distract from what’s good?
Fifth, consider the importance of the ARTS: value mastery.
Ask yourself…
What tasks completely immerse us (where do we experience flow)?
Outside of work, what could I create or produce?
Do my leisure time reflect my values?
Where do I achieve quality?
Please note, while there aren’t “right” answers to those questions, there are certainly wrong ones.
Our answers need to support our Quaker values and our commitments need to enact those values.
As with any forced prioritization, the stuff you say no to may be the most indicative. The energy comes from answering these kinds of questions overtly, rather than by assumption.
To close, I want to end with the final thought from San Francisco Friends School. I feel it sums up nicely what I have been saying.
Simplicity is a balm to contemporary anxiety,
allowing all of us to engage in the joys
and challenges of the present moment.
Now we will enter a time of waiting worship where we will put up the queries that I shared from Nathanael Yellis for you to ponder.