Does anyone else tend to take something simple and make it complicated?
Unfortunately, if I had a superpower, this would probably be it.
KISS- Keep It Simple Silly—I prefer “silly” to the word “stupid”—is an acronym I use as a constant reminder.
Simple is an alien concept for me at times. I plan a “simple” luncheon and my brain goes overboard. Pull out the lace tablecloth. Get out all my fine china. One entrée suddenly turns into three. One dessert becomes four because we all need options, right? My simple luncheon has become Mission Impossible.
Take my “simple” water feature in my front yard. I couldn’t just go get a water feature from Home Depot or Lowe’s. I wanted a small pool of water…with fish. And a waterfall. Add in some lights to the base of the tiny pond, rocks, flowers, and little artistic figures. I wanted a mound beyond the water so I can plant a tree that flows in the breeze like a waterfall. Eventually, I want to add a bench and, I think you get the idea. It is beautiful and I love it.
Now, I want a greenhouse in my backyard. Of course, I plan to keep that project simple too.
In my Centering Prayer class, each new month gives way to a new theme. Today, we were starting a new book. The World Wisdom Bible: A New Testament for a Global Spirituality. It’s edited by Rami Shapiro. The book draws on texts from Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism and Taoism.
My overactive brain is ready to cross religious boundaries. Focus on Wisdom of the Worlds. Theology. Sacredness. Rabbi Rami.
Instead, I was captured by a simplified verse from 1 John1:5-
“God is Light.”
To add to the moment, I have a metal wind spinner with crystals which coincidentally, was catching the morning sun and casting tiny rainbows on my floor and desk. If God was light, the cascading and dancing rainbows was a witness to a Divine dance before me.
For once, I sat in the moment of dancing rainbows and how God is light. I felt the beauty as I focused on the colors of red, blue, green, yellow and purple dancing on the floor. I was delighted! I felt peace. I savored the holy moment.
My brain didn’t stay there. I thought about how Jesus said he was the light of the world. I thought of the lights reverberating from the stars in the sky. I thought about the scared act of lighting a candle in church.
But the moment I most treasured was the simple verse of “God is light” and the dancing rainbows. This is the image that will stay with me and bring a smile to my face.
I love how spending time with the Divine can be so simple. As simple as sitting on a bench and feeling the sun on my face. Or witnessing a crimson rose blooming. And feeling the gentle kiss of the breeze on a hot day.
KISS. I’m amazed how often I try to make it so complicated. There are certainly times for theology and world religion discussions. But sometimes, savoring a simple and lovely moment with God is all you need.
What ways have you savored simple moments with God?
A newsletter by Katie Rea.
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