In Ecl. 7:29 it says, "This is all that I have learned: God made us plain and simple, but we have made ourselves very complicated." (Good News Translation) I am dying to go back to this simplicity. Does anyone have any idea what we lost along the way?

Sandya- 1/10/2008 6:34:43 AM

Sure, as Friedrich Nietzsche said, "God is dead"...and we killed him! The more complex life gets, the more we think we no longer need God (and we're so wrong!) We've got our cell phone, laptop, and Ipods. We've got our liposuction, botox and triple bypass. We are our own Gods now! But let me ask all those people who are happy that we killed God - are we happier now, or just busier? Are we more satisfied, or do we just have more toys?

Our quality of life has increased immensely in all the ways that don't matter (superficial) and none of the ways that really do (peace, joy, family, love)

Yes, we need to go back to simplicity. I would give anything to go back 50 or even 250 years. Giving up the computer and TV? Easy. Shorten my life span? Fine, as long as those fewer years are real and meaningful, and spent with my loved ones, not working for a new boat or a new dress. We think technology is a blessing? Nope, it's a curse - it distances us from what really matters! Who wants a longer life when that life is so hollow?!?

tom- 1/11/2008 9:08:34 PM

I have to agree with you and it's so sad too! I think you hit the nail right on the head with regard to the present life.

I was wondering if there was a simplicity that was lost as far back as in the Garden of Eden...of course it's probably a pointless pondering but hoping there is an answer :) or maybe it's exactly what you said it is and from the time of Eden we've been in a relentless race to forget what we were made for.

Sandya- 1/13/2008 4:42:59 AM

Simplicity is a choice like everything else. If you deisre to live a simple life, live it. Your life is between your ears. As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.

I live a very simple life. I spend time with those I love and are dear to my heart. I go to church, read my Bible, pray, cook,eat, do laundry,shower, sleep. Is there more to life than that? I don't think so.

And yes, I have a car, a jeep, 5 televisions, cell phone, laptop (on it now), cd players, dvd players, etc. Things. Only things.

mrspiggy- 1/20/2008 4:52:13 PM

Hi mrspiggy - I enjoy reading everything you write because your sentence structure, like your thoughts, are concise, direct and concrete. You also have a scripture to support almost all of your ideas. I appreciate your comments about simplicity and I'm inspired by how your life must benefit from the pursuit and attainment of simplicity.
I'm kind of going in the other direction with thoughts about God though. My fleeting contemplations lead me to believe God is so much more complex than I first imagined. I'm sure all we really need are the basics, and there is so much beauty in them. However, I'm kind of turned on by the old concept of proving God's existence by reason of God being greater than anything that can be imagined if He did not exist, He would not be a greater than anything that can be imagined. I enjoy imagining and there is much excitement in the discovery.
An aside: I would prefer to walk everywhere I go (cars are my wife's obsession). We only have one television (again, I blame that on my wife; but I have not watched it in years). I blissfully lost my cell phone a long time ago and won't answer the land line. I own several impressive watches (I'm sure they are all dead now and I can't recall where I put them). I guess I find computers and cd players to be necessities, but I am always profoundly disappointed each time the electricity is restored after a power outage. My wife accuses me of trying to banish our family back to the stone age after each of many times I've forgotten to pay the electric bill. Next time this occurs, I am going to cite the inspiration you provide to embrace simplicity!

Ryan- 1/31/2008 4:18:57 PM

Hi Ryan,

Life is simple and so am I. Our God, though, is not simple. Who could possibly comprehend God? Not us. That is why we serve Him. He is All. Last night at church, the pastor asked the entire congregation to stand up and tell God who He is. Can you imagine? I said, "He is my breath." Simple, right?

My mother's favorite saying was, "It is God who has made us, not we, ourselves." He made us, period. Simple? I think not. Have you ever seen anyone make a person? Or a tree? Grass or flowers. These are the things He made for our enjoyment. Our lives were meant to be lived simple. Work the garden (that He created), eat the fruit & veggies, sleep and praise Him.

We complicated it. There is nothing wrong with having things. Just remember that they are things. We have to know what has value and what doesn't. Things should NEVER take the place of people in our lives. I know that computers and answering machines have replaced people in our job world. And that's too bad. But we have some good technology that has helped save lives too. If we didn't have the internet, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

Please tell your wife candlelight is beautiful.

mrspiggy- 1/31/2008 6:57:56 PM

Oh, she knows candle light is beautiful; she also knows how stunning she looks in candlelight! This must be the reason our house, garage and attic are brimming with candelabras and candles of every variety. Before coming to this country, she was more noticeable as the type who needed to stop smelling the roses for once. Now, the impact of our materialistic culture can occasionally obscure that fine trait. However, her connection to nature and her unique relationship with God remain impressive to me.
Along the lines of what you had said earlier, if we allow it, our society can exact a pricey toll, or we can opt for simplicity.

Ryan- 1/31/2008 9:00:31 PM