simple

Why I Bought 15 of the Same T-Shirt

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Every morning I wake up, go through my preflight checklist for the day’s adventure, and walk to my closet. Waiting inside just left of the center divider are my fifteen nearly identical T-shirts. The only thing that differs are the five different colors and whether they are a v-neck or standard cut shirt. Why in the world would I do this? What compelled me to empty my closet in order to donate five thirty gallon trash bags full of clothes? I did it to simplify.

There’s been a lot of talk lately about minimalism. I’ve not ventured into much of that. I don’t want to be a minimalist in the way I mostly understand them. I merely want to simplify my life. I’ve spent the better part of two years now simplifying everything. It was bound to reach my closet. I simplified the way I work. I simplified the way I communicate. I even simplified my faith—which seems like a no brainer. But why my closet? Well, not to be coy, but it’s a simple answer. In order to eliminate decisions.

I want to make less decisions. I’ve reached a stage in life when my responsibilities have never been larger. I’ve never been “needed” by so many people before. People depend on me to make good decisions. So in order to make great decisions I’ve made a few changes. One of those changes has been to eliminate unnecessary decisions.

I have fifteen of the same T-shirt because what T-shirt I’m going to wear in the morning is an unnecessary decision. Sometimes I am heading to an event or occasion that calls for attire a bit more demanding than a T-shirt. But not often. If I do I’m ready for that and it’s an important enough event for me to invest the time it takes to make a decision. If not, then it is T-shirt time.

Research has demonstrated that we are really only capable of making so many sound decisions in a given day. So I cut out the ones that don’t really matter. This is also why I eat two hard-boiled eggs for breakfast daily with two cups of black coffee. I just eliminated another decision. 

I’m not obsessive compulsive. I don’t freak out if I don’t have my eggs or need to put on a dress shirt. I frequently decide to do something different, but I don’t have to. That’s why I bought fifteen of the same T-shirt. I sat a decision free. That’s one more decision I can make every day concerning something far more important than what’s hiding my belly button from the world.

How can you rescue a decision in your everyday world? What extra thing might you do, think, or attempt if your mind wasn’t preoccupied with some unnecessary decision? Simplify your own path to opportunity and see where it takes you. 

Jesus, Family, People

Every time I put Ethan to bed I pray this little prayer over him, "We love Jesus. We love Mommy. We love people. Amen" This little prayer sums up my hopes for his life and my state of mind better than any grand theological idea. The fact is that I have over complicated the crap out of everything in life for most of my adult life. Things are simpler than I have ever tried to make them. Sometimes it takes some good old fashioned adversity to make life a little more clear. Well some things are crystal clear right now. The important things at least. We love Jesus. We love mommy. We love people. Amen

I have committed myself to following Jesus for over twenty years. I will follow him in this life until my final breath escapes me, and then I will step into eternity where he will never be rid of my committed pursuit.

Jamie has been in my life for nearly ten years. I love her more deeply than I ever understood was possible between a man and woman. That's definitely not about to change. If anything this particular season of intense and intentional busyness in ministry combined with some recent adversity mentioned above makes me all the more passionate about my soulmate. Add to that our little boy and my life is bursting with love. I am blessed beyond comprehension.

People must come first. Even in my pursuit of Jesus I have had my selfish streak. This has been especially true in my life in ministry until recent years. God is shaping in me a love for people that is deep. I have an earnest desire to put them before myself.

This little prayer is my new compass. It is the summation of my theology. Yes, I will still commit myself to learning and teaching. I will still read with an insatiable hunger for knowledge and revelation. But all of it will be out of a desire to love Jesus, love my family, and love my people.