“It’s complicated.”
That’s a statement used today to describe everything from relationships to technology. Those of us who readily utilize computers for work and play are always seeking out simpler means to achieve our goals. We want software and apps that are intuitive. We want our calendars and contacts to sync. We want shortcuts to even the most menial tasks.
Ten years ago email was the way to go. These days it’s all about tweets and text messages. People today want the biggest reward with the least effort possible. Which works fine . . . until it doesn’t.
Many things can’t be simplified without jeopardizing quality.
I think about such food items as popcorn and sun tea. The microwave just doesn’t do justice to either.
I think about reading. A brief synopsis written in Cliff’s Notes just can’t fully capture the full power of a novel.
I think about healthcare. I’ll take a thorough physical exam any day — complete with several stops in waiting rooms and labs – before I’ll go for today’s doc-in-a-box medical drive-through.
Some things simply aren’t, well, simple. Some things are worth waiting for.
Sometimes I think we rush through life like a kid on a timed test. We may get the answers right . . . but what have we really learned?
People skills must be learned in the context of relationships. Character must be developed through discipline and accountability. Patience must be learned by waiting. To circumvent any of these processes is tantamount to making queso dip without cheese. It just doesn’t turn out right!
I’ve heard older people say many times that the older you get, the more you learn there is to know. I’m finding that’s a truism worth taking to heart.
As a child I remember working extra hard to develop a mnemonic device to help me remember key points in school. Of course, there were plenty of times when I spent more time perfecting the memory trick than I would have spent to just memorize the actual points!
In your quest to find simplicity, be sure that the things you seek to simplify are really worth the investment of energy. And make sure the integrity of the desired product is left intact.
Some things in life aren’t meant to be simple. Sometimes the biggest payoffs come in realizing you navigated stormy and complicated waters yet made it safely to the sandy shore.
Give thanks today for those complicated people and situations in your life that allow God to conform you to His image. Discipleship is a process that can’t be rushed.
It will require time. It will require sacrifice. It will require self-denial.
But it will result in personal holiness — which is, after all, simply priceless.
