If you’ve ever taken steps to simplify your life or home, then you know that it’s not just a one time deal. It’s an on-going journey…one that takes diligence and commitment to maintain. There are lots of little tricks that you can implement to make it easier for you. In our family, one of the things we try to do weekly is a purge of our “extra stuff”. I’ve nicknamed it “Simplify Saturday”. You could pick your own catchy name. Like “Thrifty Thursday” or “I Want Less Wednesday”.

Every Saturday, we get out grocery bags and we walk around the RV and grab stuff that we are not actively using or something that we know someone else will use more than us. Most of it comes from our closets. It’s amazing how few clothes a person actually wears on a daily basis from their wardrobe. You have to be brutally honest with yourself and only keep the clothes that fit these criteria:

• I wear this on a weekly or monthly basis.
• This makes me feel beautiful.
• I have to wear this for work.

Yep. That’s it. Get rid of the rest. If you don’t LOVE it, it’s gone. If it doesn’t fit you very well, it’s gone. You will feel free…like a bird. If it helps you, you can say Bella’s mantra out loud as you go: “I can give more stuff away if I just try harder”.  In fact, just today she told me that she really doesn’t like hanging clothes up and she wanted to give most of her clothes away so she just had a few things to put away. I was all for that. So she went through and gave away another bag full…on top of the bag she already did yesterday! I love this girl. She’s hard core.

To make it even easier, I’ve now implemented a giveaway drawer. Everything we come across during the week that we want to giveaway goes in that drawer. Out of sight, out of mind. Even items that we think we MIGHT want to get rid of go in this drawer. On Saturday, we go through it one more time and the drawer gets emptied into a bag with the rest of the stuff. Many people have another version of this…and it’s just a box by the back door. That way, you see it when you’re walking out and you remember to take it to Goodwill or your thrift store of choice.

Keeping clutter at a minimum is the key to a less chaotic home. Clutter saps your energy! It makes you feel overwhelmed. When your home is uncluttered, so is your mind. Live clutter free and be happy.

Happy simplifying!

When we were on the road last time, I am pretty sure the right side of the RV was grossly over the weight limit. That’s where all of my books were stored. This time around, I came up with a solution! Let me introduce you to my new favorite space saving, lightweight, environmentally friendly device…my KINDLE!

I first heard about the Kindle on Jess’s blog…she was raving about it and I thought it was a fun idea, but I didn’t think about it any further. Then I saw another person raving about theirs online. Then I did an informal Facebook poll and was overwhelmed at the number of people who had a Kindle and LOVED it. I was hooked.

I researched A LOT and found that although there are several electronic book reading options out there, the Kindle was the most popular. I did think about waiting for the Nook, but I’m impatient (it’s not released yet). When Apple releases one in the future…I’ll be all over that one. Anyhoo…I talked with Matt and we both agreed that the Kindle would be a smart option for someone who is on the road full time.

I ordered it.
It arrived.
I fell in love.

Here is why:

It looks cool…and I like to look cool.
How can you not love that green cover? Oh my word. Love it. No seriously, the Kindle just really has a nice feel to it. It holds well in your hand, with or without a case. I prefer the case because with kids, I worry about it getting stomped upon. It’s also a little easier to hold while I’m nursing at night, because the flap blocks my book light from Lucy’s eyes (yes, book light…there is no back light to prevent eye strain).

Accessibility.
I can read anywhere…anytime…and have MANY different books with me at one time. Up to 1500, in fact! I can also read major newspapers from around the world, magazines, and blogs. I mostly stick with the books, but I do enjoy reading single issues of the newspaper once in a while. I love that when we are away from the RV, I don’t have to load my bag with 2-3 books that I am reading at the time. I just grab my Kindle and go. AND, I know that if I need to, I could download a new book from Amazon in less than 1 minute (literally). Everything is delivered wirelessly on a cell signal (already set up and included when it arrives).

Good for mama.
I think Kindles are great for the mama crowd. There are no paper books to get strawberries smashed into, pages ripped out of, or thrown in the pool. Only an expensive electronic device to ruin. ha. That’s why I bought the extended warranty, which allows for one (and one only) replacement Kindle if you break it.

I’ve fallen in love with reading again.
I’ve always been a reader. I love transporting myself to another time and place through a book. But, since having kids, I can’t remember the last time I FINISHED a book. Completely. To the last page. Since receiving my Kindle, I’ve finished three books (Tales of a Female Nomad , The Help and Unschooling: A Lifestyle of Learning…all of which I LOVED! The Help was amazing). While on the road, we can’t check books out from the library (usually)…so it’s so fun to be able to read all of these new books.

I’m reading books I wouldn’t normally read.
Now I’m starting to sound like a commercial for Amazon They don’t pay me I promise! I love the option to “sample” books on the Kindle. You can search through the Amazon website and if something looks interesting, with just one click, it will magically appear on your Kindle via wireless delivery. You can read a chapter or two of the book, and then decide if you want to buy the rest. So great. This feature is also a tool to help keep a list of books you want to read in the future.

Many of you are purists when it comes to your never ending obsession with books and reading. You wouldn’t even think about replacing that hardback in your hands with an electronic device. I’m not going to argue with you I too love the feel of a real book in my hands. I love the smell and the familiar feel of it after you’ve been reading it for awhile. And let’s not forget the power of books as an “object” in your home. They serve as decoration and conversation starters. I love looking at other people’s books on their shelves…you can learn a lot about a person that way! Some of my favorite books could never be replaced by a Kindle version (i.e. The Material World, Hungry Planet, etc).

However, the Kindle serves a very specific purpose for me…and that is to allow me to have an abundance of books with me on the road without taking up space. And as an added bonus, it happens to be environmentally friendly because I’m not out buying paper books.

There are only a few downsides to the Kindle in my opinion. They are pretty expensive. And I’ve found that it’s really easy to rack up the dollars when it’s so simple to buy books (for ONLY $9.99!) But that’s it. I haven’t found much that I don’t like.

And now you’re wondering, what is on Sara’s Kindle? Well, let me tell you what I’m reading and sampling right now

• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
• Unconditional Parenting: Moving from Rewards and Punishment to Love and Reason
• A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
• Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God
• Playful Parenting
• The One Year Bible
• The Power of a Praying Wife
• Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear

Tell me your favorite books…I love a good page-turner, one that I just can’t put down! What should I read next?

When I committed to The Compact in October of 2006, I had no idea how radically it would change my life. I set out on a mission to simply stop buying new stuff…but instead the experiment changed my entire view of our consumerism-obsessed culture, marketing, wants vs. needs, giving vs. selling, the poor…the list goes on and on. While I did not complete the entire year of Compacting by my “rules”… I will be forever changed by this experience. I have blogged in the past about my journey, but here are some effects of The Compact that are still with me today:

• I LOVE buying used. It’s almost physically painful for me to buy things new/full retail cost. I could spend hours and hours at Goodwill…especially if I have a list of things I’ve been looking for. The thrill of the hunt is so fun. Whenever we need something, whether it be RV related, clothing, kitchen gadgets…we always turn to eBay, Craigslist, or Goodwill first before ever looking for it new. I would have to say that this ONE THING has been the biggest change for us.
• I’ve become appalled at the price of things…and have started to realize the crazy profit companies make on our purchases because we are just too lazy to search out the alternative. My current pair of jeans (yes I only have one pair) were 99 cents at Goodwill. Matt found them for me in the men’s section and said “here honey…these will be cute on you”. I LOVE them! And now, when I go in and I’m browsing the jeans, a tag for $3.99 seems ludicrous! Ha ha! How dare they think they can charge $3.99! This also happens when I’ve been to too many garage sales…I get used to the LOW prices and it’s hard to go back to eBay or consignment stores after that!
• I started to give a lot more stuff away. I think that when you come to the realization that it’s the STUFF that is bogging you down emotionally, mentally, and physically…you just want to get rid of it! So I got very good at filling boxes and going to Goodwill. Is there anything that feels better than handing over boxes of stuff that has been cluttering your home to the Goodwill attendant in the back of the store? I love it…a natural high!
• Handmade gifts are where it’s at…if it’s a handmade/recycled/found object art gift, even better! I think it was during my Compacting days that I discovered Etsy. Oh my goodness. How can you not love Etsy?!
• I am so much more sensitive to the marketing teams whose main goal is to make me feel like my current state of being is not good enough. They want me to want something. They scheme all day long on the by putting “want creators” on TV, internet, billboards, junk mail…it’s rampant.
• Because I am more sensitive to these things…I can hardly stand to set foot in a mall. The bright lights, the busyness, the insane amounts of money being exchanged. It’s overload.
• I can now walk into a Target or any other store and actually only buy what I went in for. Prior to The Compact, I almost felt like a zombie as I walked out of Target…wondering what just happened in there! Last night, we went as a family to buy a few items that we’ve had on our list for weeks. And it felt so good to come out with just a few things on the receipt.
• Now that Bella is at the age where she can understand purchasing, money, wants, etc…it has become more time consuming to go into stores because I need to discuss everything with her as we go. She amazes me with her self-control though. When we walk by the $1 section in Target, she likes to stop and look, but is not thrown into a frenzy if we decide not to get something there. We talk through it and it becomes a teaching moment about consumerism, money, and priorities. We talk about whether or not we need it…does she already have something similar in the RV? And if we were to get that item, would she be willing to give something else in her toy box away to make room for it? Young minds are hungry for teaching…I try as hard as I can to teach her things that aren’t in a normal school syllabus! Of course, it’s pretty rare that we even go to Target, so I think this is the key to success. Keep children focused on the abundance they DO have…not what they don’t have. Gratitude breeds contentment.
• And oh what JOY will come if we can learn contentment! Pray for it…Christ wants to give it to you!

Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:11-13 (New Living Translation)

I would LOVE to hear from all of you who have committed to The Compact at any time (and for any length of time). Let us know how you felt about it and how it has stuck with you even after you were officially “done”.

Photo credit: Flickr/Creative Commons: ATIS547

One of my Christmas gifts this year was a book that I’ve wanted for a LONG time….”Yurts: Living in the Round” by Becky Kemery. I have been pouring over it…learning about the history of this amazing structure and also falling in love again with the wisdom of ancient cultures. You don’t have to be a nomad to recognize the beauty of the nomadic life…there is much to be learned from people who are truly living.

There is a section in the book that I’ve been thinking a lot about lately. I wanted to share it with you because it describes my thoughts about simplicity so perfectly:

The Central Asian nomads live with deep-rooted simplicity. Nomads carry with them what they need. Each person, for example, brings his or her own cup, bowl, and utensils when traveling. Waste is unthinkable; once something has served its usefulness in one area, it is put to use as something else. Every possession is chosen with care an ideally serves multiple function. With few possessions, there is the opportunity to bring artistry to every element of daily life. And because everything has its place in the circle of nomadic life (a placement prescribed by the very fabric of the culture), the setting of daily life is greatly simplified. One can walk in to any ger (yurt) and know where most items are stored and what part of the ger and know what part of the ger is used for which functions. This level of simplicity liberates energy for art, laughter, family, and tribe.

A final gift of the nomads is their intimate sense of connectedness. The circle is the symbol of interconnectedness, and the yurt makes this very real by creating a space for the family to live together in one large room, all the generations, interacting and creating a sense of tribe and family. Likewise, the veil between inside and outside is much thinner in a yurt; one knows when the wind blows or the temperature drops. the earth is truly underfoot, the night sky is visible through the smoke hole, and a sheep bleating in the middle of the night wakes up the herder. It is from this intimate sense of connection with all things around them that nomads living in balance in such a way that Mother Nature is never harmed.

I have bolded my favorite part…I think that every one of us wants to “bring artistry to every element of daily life”. Imagine yourself waking up tomorrow morning. You walk into the kitchen…and as you pour the crystal clear water into the kettle, you listen carefully to the sound of the water splashing on the bottom. After preparing your coffee or tea, you reach for your mug which hangs on a colorfulfully painted peg on the wall. Each person in your family has their own mug that they use for drinking. You chose your particular mug for the beauty of the design and for how perfectly it fits into your hand as you enjoy a steamy hot drink. You pour your creamer in and stand amazed at the lovely patterns it makes as it blends into the liquid. With each sip, you are reminded of how beautiful life is. Are you laughing at me yet? Ok, ok…it does seem a bit crazy. BUT…how would your life change if this was your reality? If you were able to see beauty in the mundane?

Think about how different your kitchen would be if each person in your family lived with a nomadic mindset and only had what they needed? One plate, one bowl, one mug/cup, a set of silverware. *GASP! What about company?!* I didn’t say you had to get rid of your excess place settings…just put them away. In a cupboard above the fridge…or in the basement. If you have older children, they can be responsible for their setting (cleaning, putting away, etc.). If their bowl is dirty, they don’t take out another, they just quickly wash the bowl and use it again.

If you want to really have fun…go to the thrift store and let the children pick out their very favorite plate/bowl/cup. It would probably cost about $2 per person…but it would give each person a sense of ownership. Some of my very favorite dishes came from thrift stores! If you are someone that has to have matching everything, this obviously wouldn’t work for you I know from personal experience, that once I downsized my kitchen “stuff” by about 75%, life became very happy. Look at the things you use every day, and keep them. Everything else goes away (at least out of sight). I could have a fully functional kitchen with one large chef’s knife and a few bowls. And remember… “this level of simplicity liberates energy for art, laughter, family, and tribe”. Because who wants to do dishes all day? Be liberated!

The second part of this quote speaks about living in close quarters…specifically one large “great room”, and how it magically brings people together. Now that we have come “off the road” and out of the RV for a few months, we are noticing how hard it is to connect as a family. We really have to work at having time together…uninterrupted by TV, activities, and spacious homes. We REALLY like living in a small space because it’s so easy to bond together and to truly live. It’s been a great learning experience … I don’t think we will ever go back to a big house. Too much space to get away from your family! After awhile, you start to think you actually NEED that space.

Another book that I am planning on getting from the library…A Handmade Life by Bill Coperthwaite (maker/mastermind behind the tapered wall wooden yurt). A little about Bill…

William Coperthwaite is a teacher, builder, designer, and writer who for many years has explored the possibilities of true simplicity on a homestead on the north coast of Maine. In the spirit of Henry David Thoreau, Emily Dickinson, and Helen and Scott Nearing, Coperthwaite has fashioned a livelihood of integrity and completeness-buying almost nothing, providing for his own needs, and serving as a guide and companion to hundreds of apprentices drawn to his unique way of being. (amazon.com)

For those of you in Maine, you should venture to “Dickinson’s Reach” on the northeast coast sometime to visit his homestead. I wish I would have known about it while we were up there this fall! Here is a nice little article about him…he’s a man after my own heart: ”If living is to be right, it ought to be beautiful,” declares Coperthwaite. Preach it, Bill!

Can life be beautiful even with just a few possessions? Yes! This is just one of the reasons why I am in awe of the Mongolian culture (their gers/yurts in particular) and how they have taken such care in making their life beautiful. Every time I see one of their beautiful doors, my breath is taken away. I have also fallen in love with their furnishings. Pure beauty…in color and form.

It’s so interesting to me that we can draw insight and inspiration from a culture and lifestyle that most of mainstream America would deem as “primitive”. Our country would be a different place if more families lived in such close community and focused on making life beautiful with less.

Creative Commons Photo Credit: dwarawlinson

STUFF.
It’s amazing to me how much stuff we managed to fit in our cozy little apartment in Bozeman. Even after we had taken all of the important and beloved items to the RV, we were still left with what you see in the above photo. This photo was taken right before we loaded up the truck to get rid of it all. We sold all of the furniture and higher priced items and gave everything else away. Well, almost everything. We kept the little munchkin hiding in the piles. It’s like Where’s Waldo Do you see her?

It was very freeing to downsize again…this time was much more drastic than any of our moves before. We ended up keeping only the stack of green totes behind Bella. The funny thing is…I don’t miss any of it. But I do think about “stuff” a lot. Not how to get it, but rather how I can get rid of it! I still go through the RV and make piles of stuff to give away. As we were packing, I started wondering how it all got into my possession in the first place. So…let’s discuss. How DOES all of this stuff get into our homes?

Where does it all come from?
Well, Target of course! Isn’t that where all STUFF originates from?! If it’s not Target, it’s another store that tells you that last season’s style is now out of style. When I think back to my college days of credit cards and endless spending…it was usually when Target changed seasons that I went berserk. All of those cool new things in new colors! Calling my name! Ooooh! It didn’t matter if I had something just like it at home already…whatever the thing was, the new one was better. Then, when I brought it home…the other item that I didn’t want anymore would just get put in a cupboard, a drawer, or the basement….and voila! Follow that sequence enough and CLUTTER IS BORN.

Our dissatisfaction with our current state of possessions is mostly driven by advertising. It’s practically unavoidable. The mall and television are the main culprits…but even without a television and with trying to avoiding the mall, I am still prone to being sucked in by banner ads for natural products or emails from companies I have bought from in the past sending me sale notices, etc. But, I know my weaknesses and I have started to unsubscribe from all of these tempting offers.

Speaking of knowing weaknesses…thrifting, garage sale-ing, ebaying. I’m sure there are many who read this blog who have a love of any or all of those things. But too much love for those things, and clutter will find you too! It used to be very hard for me to even go into a thrift store or to a garage sale without finding all kinds of things that would be “perfect”! When I had a larger living space, it was way too easy to find space to put all of it. But now, I have no extra space. I can tell myself “no” because I can’t imagine where it will go!

So we’ve established that stuff comes from stores…new or used. It also comes from the stuff-giving people in your life. If you have someone in your life who is constantly buying you things, it can be very difficult to handle if you are trying to downsize. Lucky for me, I can just say “sorry…we don’t have any more room in the RV!”. But that isn’t the case for most! My philosophy is to ALWAYS graciously accept whatever it is that someone is giving you. They have obviously given some thought into the matter and it’s important to them that you have it. If you decide later that you just don’t want to keep it, you can give it away, re-gift it to someone else, or if you’re broke…you could sell it! Hey! It’s practical. Some of you may have a problem with my suggestions, but when you’re downsizing…sometimes you have to be brutal. I’m not going to keep a dust-gathering figurine just because someone else thought I should have it in my house. If you have someone close to you who is consistently giving you things against your wishes, it would be wise to sit down and have a heart to heart about your values and goals for your home. You could give them some ideas of things that would be really useful gifts for you…or you can also ask them to give you gifts of their TIME instead. They could have you over for dinner or take the kids so you can have some alone time.

What is “enough”?
This is a question that only you can answer. I often get people asking me how much clothing they should keep or how many toys their child should have. It really just depends on what your priorities are. What works for one person would never work for another. Everyone one will have some types of possessions that will look like “excess” to someone else. The line between necessity and luxury is different for each person/family. You might be surprised at how little you actually need to live. I’m not saying that everyone would be happy selling it all and moving into an RV . But it’s a really good exercise to truly examine what things are important for you to keep and what things are just taking up time and energy. Ask the hard questions of yourself. Why do you “need” a certain item? Could you live without it and still have the same quality of life? Some of you might have never considered living without a car. You might be surprised at how much stress it relieves! For others, living without a car would actually create more stress.

If you have the special gift of hospitality and you love to open your home to others and serve them…you probably don’t want to get rid of all of your extra dishes. On the other hand, if you have 25 cute coffee mugs, but you have never had more than 2 people over at one time for coffee…you might want to consider downsizing your collection. If you have a home with 2 spare bedrooms, but you only use them one weekend out of the year…you would probably benefit by downsizing your home. If you have people staying with you all the time and you love being able to open your home to traveling guests…then keep the bigger house!

Clothing is a great place to start your downsizing journey because nearly everyone has too many clothes! However, it can be a hard one because there tends to be a lot of emotions there. But they are just clothes, and they don’t make you who you are! If you have a piece of clothing you’re holding onto for sentimental reasons, consider making a throw pillow out of it or frame a piece of it like art. That way you can re-claim the space in your closet and make your memory functional.

If you haven’t been able to fit in those five pairs great jeans for 2 years…it’s probably time to give them away and enjoy the extra space in your closet. If you don’t love how you feel when you where it, it shouldn’t be there. If it stains easily, is hard to wash, or is not practical…it shouldn’t be there. If you haven’t worn it in a year…it’s gone! There are a couple of exceptions of course. If you have a job that requires a certain type of dress code, you will obviously need to keep clothes for work. And if you don’t have laundry on-site, it’s often easier to keep a few more clothes than you think you will need so that you have some available even if you can’t make it to the laundromat.

I’m sure that you have some things in your life that bring you extreme joy when you use them. For me it’s tea, pillows, cookbooks, and photos. Those are things that I will occasionally downsize, but I know that it’s ok for me to have what may look like excess to other people… because I LOVE them. Just know yourself…know WHY you are keeping something around. Only you can decide what works and what doesn’t.

Getting Rid of Stuff
The best way to start your downsizing journey is to JUST START. When I have stuff I need to go through, I create three boxes. The first box says “KEEP”, the second box says, “DONATE”, the third box says “SELL”. You can also have a fourth box that says “NOT SURE”. After you start doing this a lot, you’ll find that less and less goes in the “not sure” box because you get better at making decisions about what is important and what isn’t. Once you have your boxes set up…get busy! It helps to have a non-biased person helping because they can talk some sense into you when you when you need it. When you are done, put the donate box by the door so you can continue throwing stuff into it every day. When it’s full, put it in your car and take it to the Goodwill/Thrift/Salvation Army store that very same day. Don’t delay…otherwise it will sit there for 6 months. After 6 months you’ll find it and think “ooooh…look at all this fun STUFF!”. Just get rid of it fast and don’t look back. You won’t miss it. Take the sell box and sell those items on Craigslist, eBay, or your local classifieds.

Here are some places to focus your efforts:

• Clothing (as discussed above)
• Books: If you haven’t read it and never will, pass it on to someone else, sell it, or donate it to the library. I try to only keep my very favorite books on the shelf.
• Dishes: I like to only keep on hand what I need for my immediate family. One plate, one cup, etc. for each person. The rest goes in storage until we have guests. This also makes doing dishes much more enjoyable.

When you are at a level of possessions that you are happy with…make sure that everything has a place. I cannot stress this enough. When you don’t have a place for something, it just goes on the counter. Clutter breeds clutter, so pretty soon you have a little clutter colony there. You should have a place for keys. A place for incoming mail. A place for pens…and so on. It will be so much easier to clean your house when you can put it all away quickly. I also prefer to have a clean counter-top in the kitchen and bathroom. If you have the space to get your appliances and knick-nacks off of the counter and put them into cupboards or closets…do it. You’ll be amazed at the difference it makes. Replace those items with a simple bouquet of wildflowers, wipe off your empty counter and SMILE!

If you do live in a small space, it’s critical that you de-clutter and put everything away EVERY night. If you let it build up for even one day, it can be overwhelming and get out of control. It’s especially true in the RV…I usually go through at least 2-3 times a day and put stuff away, straighten the counters, the bed, etc. I actually love doing it…because when everything has a place, it’s a JOY to “keep house”!

A Joy to Keep House?!
Yes. When your home is organized and decluttered…you will be a different person. Your outlook on life changes. Situations that seemed out of control and chaotic now seem manageable. When you wake up and walk to the kitchen to make coffee and your counter-top is clean…your day just got that much easier.

The state of your home is in direct proportion to the state of your heart/mind. When you have piles of stuff all over your house, your spirit just gets bogged down with all of it whether you know it or not. When you don’t have to worry about moving your STUFF around, cleaning your STUFF, and storing your STUFF…you have a lot more time to spend doing things things that you love and spending time with your family and friends! And that’s what life is all about.

In my journey of downsizing and “letting go” of my stuff…I have often thought about what it would feel like if I truly had nothing. What if I was so poor and in need, that I didn’t have even ONE thing that I could get rid of? I’ve never been in that situation, so my mind can’t even fathom it, but so many people live with SO LITTLE, with no end in sight.

During this holiday season especially, I am reminded over and over of how much I do have. We are wealthy beyond measure. If I need something, I can go and buy it. If we need socks, shoes, food, bedding, or eyeglasses, we just go buy it. With that said, the following statistics are shocking…

• Half the world — nearly three billion people — live on less than two dollars a day. ¹
• “The combined wealth of the world’s 200 richest people hit $1 trillion in 1999; the combined incomes of the 582 million people living in the 43 least developed countries is $146 billion.” ¹
  • Source: Poverty Facts and Stats
    

What would Jesus say to this? You don’t have to look far to find out. Jesus talks about the poor A LOT. He talks about giving your belongings to them… feeding them…caring for them. Basically, treat them as you would want to be treated…and most of all: SHARE your stuff! The second statistic above is just mind boggling to me. When Jesus looks down on us, he sees enough food, enough money, and enough shelter to keep everyone in the world from wanting. But not many will share.

“John answered, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.” Luke 3:11

 

If we take this scripture to heart/literally…how can we biblically own more than we need? This has been on my mind a lot as I go through my possessions. I ask myself…”Who could use this RIGHT NOW?”. Sure, I “might” need it “someday”…but I can give it to someone that needs it today. But what about those homeless/needy people who appear to have the means to get out of “their situation”? Doesn’t giving to them just enable them to remain homeless? I truly think that if we are giving abundantly to others, Jesus will take care of the rest. Of course, exercise due caution, and don’t give cash directly. There are so many other ways to help.

What was so different about the early Christian church? Why could they live this way and today we find it beyond impossible?

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. Acts 4:32

All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts. Acts 2:44-46

Why does one neighborhood need a lawn mower in every garage? Why does each individual family spend money on things they will only use a few times a year? Why not have a common area where things can be “checked out” from? Part of the reason is that we have isolated ourselves and no one knows their neighbors anymore. We are an automated and isolated nation. I am fascinated by communal living and intentional communities with this type of possession “system”…but that’s a different blog post altogether!

I’m quite disturbed about the homeless situation in our country. Let me start by saying that I don’t know anything about being homeless. I have never volunteered at a homeless shelter, I have never housed anyone who was homeless, and I’ve never been without a place to sleep at night. But I just can’t stop thinking about it.

The majority of homeowners think that they “need” a guest bedroom that will be used a few times a year. These rooms sit empty when there are people living on the streets. Not that all of you who have guest bedrooms should go and find a homeless person and put them up…I’m just interested in this crazy trend.

Shane Claiborne, author of “The Irresistible Revolution” has a lot to say about the homeless and how Jesus would treat them. This book is hands down my favorite of the entire year. I jokingly call it “my second Bible”. It will forever change you. Here is a review…

If there is such a thing as a disarming radical, 30-year-old Claiborne is it. A former Tennessee Methodist and born-again, high school prom king, Claiborne is now a founding member of one of a growing number of radical faith communities. His is called the Simple Way, located in a destitute neighborhood of Philadelphia. It is a house of young believers, some single, some married, who live among the poor and homeless. They call themselves “ordinary radicals” because they attempt to live like Christ and the earliest converts to Christianity, ignoring social status and unencumbered by material comforts. Claiborne’s chatty and compelling narrative is magnetic—his stories (from galvanizing a student movement that saved a group of homeless families from eviction to reaching Mother Teresa herself from a dorm phone at 2 a.m.) draw the reader in with humor and intimacy, only to turn the most common ways of practicing religion upside down. He somehow skewers the insulation of suburban living and the hypocrisy of wealthy churches without any self-righteous finger pointing. “The world,” he says, “cannot afford the American dream.” Claiborne’s conviction, personal experience and description of others like him are a clarion call to rethink the meaning of church, conversion and Christianity; no reader will go away unshaken.

It’s my dream to go visit his community, The Simple Way. I would love to interact with that group for a month and learn to truly look beyond appearances and love beyond myself.

One of my favorite singers, Ani Difranco, wrote a song called Subdivision. You can hear it on this site. Her music and her message are beyond amazing. And although I don’t agree with all of her opinions…I think she is one of the most talented and brave voices out there. Here are some of the lyrics of Subdivision that have really stuck with me:

I remember the first time I saw someone lying on the cold street
I thought, “I can’t just walk past you, this can’t just be true.”
But I learned by example to just keep moving my feet.
It’s amazing the things that we all learn to do.
So we’re led by denial like lambs to the slaughter
Serving empires of style and carbonated sugar water
and the old farm road’s a four-lane that leads to the mall
and my dreams are all guillotines waiting to fall
And I wonder then what it will take for my country to rise.
First we admit our mistakes and then we open our eyes.

Whenever I have visited a large city…with homeless lying “on the cold street”…something churns within me. I wonder what circumstances led to them losing their home. Drugs? Losing a job? Some other addiction? Just a bad string of events with no family to help? I always want to ask. But like Ani says … I’ve “learned by example to just keep moving my feet”. So sad.

I went to see the movie “The Pursuit of Happyness ” a few weeks ago and it deeply moved me. I depicts the true story of a single dad and his son…fighting to make it…and they do end up on the streets for awhile. It was heartbreaking, but such a wonderful film. Not a feel good film, but one that will open your eyes.

These thoughts have been on my mind for so long…it’s such a hard topic to talk about because if we truly LIVE out what Jesus has shown us…it requires us to ACT. It requires us to take care of others unselfishly. I know that there are many who can debate this topic more eloquently than I can…arguing that the wealthy need their large homes and toys to minister to those people who will only respond that way to Christ. I’m still thinking through all of that…and I know that God uses everyone where they are at right now, and with the possessions they have right now. But how much is too much? Where do we draw the line between having excess possessions to “minister to others” and living as Christ commands us? Where is the line between being too radical in your lack of possessions (if there is such a thing) and having too much?

Well, a year later…God has opened doors for us and we will be making the trek to Bozeman for Christmas again, but this time we will be pulling our entire life behind us in a 4 x 12 trailer. Yes…we’re moving! Our last day in Des Moines will be December 15. After that, we will spend a week in Brainerd, MN with Matt’s family and then we will all head out from there. We will spend a couple weeks at Lion’s Ridge in the cabin you see in the photo above…and then will travel to Boulder, CO to visit our best friends for a few weeks. When we return, we will know more regarding a job opportunity in full-time ministry there. I will share more with you as things become more finalized. What we have realized is that we need to be back in ministry, paid or unpaid. We know that Matt has been called to that…and we want to be obedient to his calling.

We have sold all of our furniture (yes, even our bed, kitchen table…everything!) and our bus and have only kept the things we love. That made for a much easier move! We are looking forward to starting fresh and trusting God to provide fun, “new to us” furniture and such when we arrive. It’s definitely been a growing experience as I learn to release my earthly possessions and focus on where God is leading. We feel so light and free!

God has been so good to us…and we are so excited to be starting a new adventure. We have much to look forward to.

• A wonderful church with which we are already acquainted with.
• God-ordained friendships (a crazy story for another time!)
• Family…Ryan and Mindy are so much fun, I am excited to have them so close!
• Shops and restaurants galore!
• An amazing co-op
• Mountains!
• A slower lifestyle

So now you understand why I haven’t been posting as much lately…I’ve been busy packing! We moved out of our apartment a few weeks ago and we are spending these last days in Iowa with my parents at their house. Please bear with me during this transition, I’m not sure how much computer time I will have. But I am so excited to share every step with you all…telling of God’s amazing provision as he leads us WEST!

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Isaiah 55:12

During the holiday season, it is very easy to feel like our current possessions are “lacking” and “deficient”. Everywhere you turn, there is an advertisement for this or that. Even though you may only hear them in passing, they do affect you deeply. The advertisements are created to MAKE you feel want…like you are “less” if you don’t rush out and purchase their item. Or, during this season, you are less if you don’t rush out and purchase it for your friend, spouse, child, etc.

Recently, I took my grandma to the mall because she wanted to get some gift certificates for Christmas. I hadn’t been out to walk the mall in a long time…and I found it completely overwhelming. The people, the noise, the bright and shiny objects! I started to find myself looking in the windows … and feeling that WANTING that I so hate. I was in the mall for literally 5 minutes or less, and in that little space of time, the sirens sucked me in. I walked out chanting to myself “look straight ahead, there is nothing you need”! I am so glad I don’t have to deal with that anymore this season!

I started to think about other ways that WANT is created in my life. I have discussed this before, but it’s worth doing it again. It’s an ongoing battle, and if you don’t think about it and how it happens, it will control you.

I started with my email inbox. I went through and unsubscribed from every single newsletter, update, etc. that I receive. I was astounded at how many businesses/spammers have my email. It took several hours to complete this, and I am still doing “maintenance” unsubscribing daily. I needed to do this because there are several really fun crafty sites that I get updates for…and even though they are homemade, ethical, etc, I do not need them. Opening those emails only creates want. Having less emails makes me spend less time at the computer and have less distraction in general. I also unsubscribed from several discussion groups that I just didn’t have time to read. From now on, I will make a point to be more protective of my email address. I know that spammers can get it without me knowing, but I will do all that I can.

The other “tool of wanting” that I’ve been thinking about lately is the TV. I know that most of you will agree with me on this one…but I want to talk about a certain genre in particular that I used to find harmless. The two channels that I used to give myself “permission” to watch, HGTV and TLC, are experts in creating want not just in their advertising but within the programming. What?! Say it isn’t so! Yes. Think with me for a moment.

“Dream House”, “I Want That”, “National Open House”…these are three programs that create want in myself when I watch them. Basically, when you are looking over and over at lifestyles, people, and possessions that don’t align with your values or your budget, it will only leave you “wanting”. When you see “excess” as the norm, your standards and expectations start to change. The same principle applies to reading gossip magazines (i.e. People, Us, etc.). If you read it enough, focus on it enough, and desire to KNOW and imitate other’s lifestyles enough…you will continue to WANT.

On TLC, there is a show called “What Not to Wear”. The hosts go into someone’s closet, basically tell them what a horrible dresser they are and how ugly they look, and they throw away (donate?) all of their clothes and give them $5,000 to go shopping for a new wardrobe. First of all, clothing is an extremely emotional and personal choice. When you come in an dissect someone’s wardrobe, it’s traumatizing. Secondly, I could buy a whole army a wardrobe with $5,000 (does anyone else think that is insane?!). With that said, I can see how it sucks people in because I used to be very entertained by it. But when I would watch them go shopping, I started to wish that I could just go on a shopping spree like that. I WANTED to be them. TV turns you into a happy little consumer.

John Piper, one of my favorite pastors and authors, calls TV the “great life-waster”. He has this to say in his book “Don’t Waste Your Life“:

“The main problem with TV is not how much smut is available, though that is a problem. Just the ads are enough to sow fertile seeds of greed and lust, no matter what program you’re watching. The greater problem is banality. A mind fed daily on TV diminishes. Your mind was made to know and love God. Its facility for this great calling is ruined by excessive TV. The content is so trivial and so shallow that the capacity of the mind to think worthy thoughts withers, and the capacity of the heart to feel deep emotions shrivels.”

So, there you have it. In addition to creating WANT, watching TV turns you into a shallow idiot.
Turn it off! (Please don’t tell me that TV is educational. Get out there and LIVE life instead of learning about it on your TV).

I want to stop wanting. Looking back at the definition…I am not lacking, missing, deficient, or in need of anything. The only thing I am in “need” of is God’s grace and forgiveness daily. I want to be satified by Christ alone.

*photo courtesy of davepatten/flickr.com

• It feels so good to NOT buy something after having the urge to do so. Realizing that I actually demonstrated self-control is exciting.
• Shopping at Goodwill is fun. It’s much more exhilerating to find the exact item I need at a thrift store…than to just run into Target and walk right to it. Less convenient, yes..but more fun.
• I can overspend just as easily at thrift stores as I can in Target.
• I am extremely senstitive to how I am feeling when looking at advertisements. I can take the time now to dissect those emotions and realize that they are constructed.
• There have been several times when I’ve thought, “I would have totally bought that if I wasn’t Compacting!”. I started to add up all those things I kept saying that about…and it was several hundred dollars. It’s a great feeling to save that money instead of spend it on things that I wouldn’t want a few hours later anyway.
• Doing the Compact seems to make some people upset & confused. Like the fact that I am actually THINKING about my purchases throws their whole existance out of whack. Apparently, compacting is very threatening.
• I haven’t found it to be particularly difficult to buy used, barter/trade, or make do. It’s been great!

I have especially enjoyed finding Christmas gifts this year. I thought that it might be difficult, because I am usually a Christmas Eve “hurry up and buy anything!” kind of shopper. Total procrastination. I am happy to say that I am almost done shopping for everyone on my list! Here’s to 319 more happy days of Compacting!

Clothes. We all wear them (well, hopefully!). They can be a symbol of power and success …or poverty. They can be a source of ridicule at school or at work…or they can land you in the “cool” crowd. Do you ever notice how clothes tend be a major conversation starter? It’s always interesting to talk with people about their clothes. You can learn a lot about people by how they view their clothing…where they shop, etc. Clothes are a powerful tool…but they can control us if we let them.

When you are trying to simplify your life and downsize your possessions, you can’t ignore this area. It tends to be avoided because clothing is so personal…there are often a lot of emotional attachments connected to it.

As I looked through my closet about 6 months ago, I started to ask myself some questions?

• Why do I have 4 plain white t-shirts?
• When was the last time I wore those shoes? Last year?
• Why do I “need” 6 pairs of jeans?
• How many pairs of socks do I really need?!

I had to look inward and try to discover why I felt like I needed all of these clothes…when there are others who have so little. I also started to wonder when our culture became clothes obsessed. According to the hgtv.com website, clothes used to be stored in chests or armoires up until after WWII…and then there was a bigger need for housing and they started to build closets as they build the new homes. This is also around the time that TV was being introduced to the masses. I can’t help but think that all advertising created the false sense of need for more clothing. Even today…if I watch too much TV/advertising, I immediately start feeling discontent with my current possessions and feel like I need to buy more to be happy. After we stopped watching so much TV, I no longer had a “voice” coming into my home telling me what to wear, what to think, and what to buy.

Stewardship: What would Jesus say if he opened your closet door?
I have to admit that I hadn’t ever really thought about what Jesus says regarding clothes up until about 6 months ago. Growing up, I had the typical attitude that you just couldn’t have enough clothes. And don’t even think about wearing USED clothes! *GASP!*. It takes time to change how you’ve always thought.

When I started studying on that topic…I realized that Jesus really doesn’t care about clothes much at all…and he tells us that we shouldn’t focus on it so much.

John answered, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.” Luke 3:11

But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 1 Tim 6:8

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?” Matthew 6:25

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.” Matthew 6:28

He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. Luke 9:3

It’s clear that Jesus thinks we have better things to put our time, energy, and money into than clothes. If you are going to focus your energy on it…it should revolve around getting clothes to people who truly need them.

“But…I Need It!”
Our clothing needs are really very minimal. Depending on where you live in the country (seasonally) and if you work outside the home, you will need a couple pair of pants, a couple shirts, undergarments, shoes, and a coat. That’s it. Now…I’m not saying that’s all we should have…but it will do us good to think about what a “need” truly is. I’m also not trying to turn everyone into a minimalist or say that clothes are inherently bad. Clothes are fun. It’s great to find that “perfect outfit”…I’m just asking you to think about your closet and what it says about you and what you value. On the Simple Living boards, there are several threads about clothing. In one of them, I found this little tidbit:

“I found out that the less you shop, the desire to shop would decrease. And eventually, when you are walking in a mall, you have this weird feeling while watching people buying stuff…thinking, why would people need THAT…and you suddenly feel like an alien.”

I can definitely relate to that feeling…especially now that I’m not shopping at malls. It’s a very weird phenomenon.

New…or Not
When you are purchasing a new piece of clothing…why do you have to buy it new? There are so many second-hand stores, consignment stores, etc. that have racks and racks of clothes at a fraction of the price. You can look just like everyone else (if you want to) and have all the same brands and still have money to go out to eat. If you are someone who “just doesn’t shop at thrift stores” … examine why that is. Is that an attitude handed down through your family? Do you feel some sort of shame by not buying new? Granted, it is much easier to just run to the mall or Target to pick out the latest fashion. It takes a little planning to buy used, but it’s so much better for the earth AND your pocketbook. There are many fun groups and websites that focus on recycling clothing and “re-fashioning”. I’ve shared them on another post, but they are worth sharing again:

Wardrobe Refashion
Little Brown Dress

Passing it On
Ok. So you’ve made the decision to downsize your closet. Where do you begin? There are several “methods” to help you decide whether or not you still need an item of clothing. I would suggest taking an afternoon and putting all your clothes in a big pile. Set up 3 boxes and label them “Give”, “Keep”, and “Not Sure”. Then get to it. If you think you should keep an item, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Do I feel GREAT in this?
2. Does it fit me correctly? Or have I just been telling myself that?
3. Have I worn this in the last 6 months?
4. Is it practical?

If you can’t answer yes to all of the above, throw it in the “Give” pile. If you having some emotional issues letting it go, throw it in the “Not Sure” pile. The key to going through your clothes is to do it FAST…the more you sit and think about each item…the more you will THINK you want/need to keep it. Clothing is easy to come by…if you give away something you need later, find another one. Also, it does help to have a friend or spouse do this with you…so that when you need a second opinion, there is one readily available. However, don’t ask your packrat friend to help you…she will only hinder.

A side note…I know there are some of you thinking, “What about my Aunt Berta’s pink leather jacket”! If you have heirloom items in your closet that you no longer want…you should ask around the family and try to pass them on that way. If not, take a photo of the item, put it in an album and write out all of your memories about it…and then get rid of it.

Where do I take it? Can I sell it?
If you want to sell some of your clothes…try a consignment store. You can take your clothes into the store and as they sell, you will get a percentage of the profit. I prefer to just get rid of it all and be done with it…so I usually opt for Freecycle or Goodwill. Fill a bag, take it in, DONE. You could also take them directly to a women’s shelter…they are always happy to receive nice women’s and children’s clothing. I have sold some nicer items online if I know there is a market for them and I needed some quick cash. You could also try a a clothes swap…or as I’ve heard them called, a “Naked Party” and invite a bunch of your girlfriends over to swap clothes. Here are the details on how to do it.

Disposable Clothing
We live in a “disposable” obsessed culture. I have switched my house to completely re-usable/cloth everything… so why do I buy disposable clothing? The items that I’ve bought in the past from Old Navy, Target and other discount stores are usually a one- season item and then they are trashed. If I would have just bought higher quality to begin with, many resources (and headaches) would be saved. Now that we are Compacting, I’m not going into those stores at all anymore and my closet is so much better off! I think that is one of the great things about thrifting…almost everything I’ve found has been a high-quality brand that will last and last…but without the high price.

I’ve also found that when you have less clothing, you tend to take better care of what you have. With my “disposable” clothing, I didn’t care if something stained it or if it ripped.

What does YOUR closet look like Sara?
In the photo above, you can see what my closet looks like. The far left section is mine. Over the last 6 months I have gotten rid of about 75% of my clothes…and I don’t miss them! It’s so much easier to do laundry, to clean up, to sort…when you don’t have a mess of clothes in your closet. It’s immeasurably easier to get dressed in the morning when you only have a few choices. Since moving into the apartment, I’ve gotten a few more items simply because we don’t do laundry as much now. But I LOVE the simplicity of having less clothes. Less stress. Less mess. Less is good…now go clean your closet!