A Simple Kinda Life

Hi everybody :)  How's it going?  I'm blogging to you live from the sun-bright city of Austin, Texas with my good pal Callie by my side.  She's writing an entry on HER blog - http://www.seizuretheday.org/ - please feel free to check her out :)

It has been a lovely couple of weeks here in God's country!  The juicing is going great, my job is getting more interesting everyday, mom and dad were in town for the 4th of July, and I get my new apartment in FOUR days!!!!!!!!!!!!  Yay!

Life truly feels simple and sweet. That sweet simplicity is something I've been thinking a lot about these days :) It is hard for someone like me (my mind is always in 10 places at once and my energy levels are HIGH to say the least) to slow down and apply a simplified perspective - but I've been more and more able to achieve this here in Austin.  Check out this devotional I read the other day:

I really love that excerpt!  It spoke to me on a very personal level.  You've heard the term "let go and let God," right?  I hate that term.  It's TOO simple.  Really?  You expect me to "let go" of the pieces that make up my life!?  Righhht...

But what I love about the words above is that it is saying that you don't need to "let go" of everything.  Instead, "cling" to God - seek his presence continually - stop trying to control the outcomes of your life - and trust his ability to bring about the changes and dreams you hope to see come about in your life.

Simple, right?  Sounds way too simple.  ;)  But it has really worked for me.  I have been simplifying my life in terms of nutrition, relationships, and spirituality; and I see God doing some big things.  Every time I've handed the reigns over to him in an area of my life - I've been so shocked and amazed to see that area of my life not only work out okay, it begins to b l o s s o m.  :)

Living simply in an applied manner is not an easy lifestyle choice.  It requires daily courageous action.  I feel like a soldier on the battle field!  I have given more patience and attention to others and denied my ego more than usual.  That is HARD.  I have given up eating bad - yet delicious - foods in favor of more fruits and vegetables.  DIFFICULT.  I have stopped trying to make things happen with relationships in my life and instead given God the space to place people in my circle - and not kick and scream when some of those people fall out of my sphere.  It's not easy.

Some very simple words of wisdom!

So today, where ever you are, I hope you take some time to meditate on one simple thing in your life.  It might be the simplicity of turning off the tv and concentrating on a few conscious breaths.  It might mean giving a meal to a sick friend and sucking it up when they forget to say "thanks."  It might mean enduring someone whose conversational habits irk you but you know they need a listening ear.  You could even buy a meal for the guy behind you at McDonald's!  Better yet - you could simply  skip going to McDonald's.  ;)

I really do love you all.  I pray for the people who read my little blog entries and I hope you all are feeling the joy, enthusiasm, and simplicity that life has to offer.

I am signing off here with a few of my favorite simple things from the last couple of days :)

Grandma Kendall turned 96 on July 2!  My phone call with her the morning of her bday was the highlight of my week :)

A simply beautiful evening on top of Mt. Bonnell with my sister.

These letters from my Maryland girl friends provided a heartfelt boost to  my emotional landscape :)

Simple and true.

Love y'all,
B