The Gift of Simplicity

“The juggler of Notre Dame” is a religious miracle story by the French author Anatole France. It is based on an old medieval legend. Many years ago, there lived a poor juggler named Barnabas who performed tricks in towns and cities. Crowds would gather to watch him do his tricks. Barnabas was a great performer. He could throw himself backwards until his neck touched his heels, and his body formed a wheel. In that position, he juggled knives.  

Nevertheless, he had a hard time earning money, especially during the winters when he was cold and hungry. His needs were simple, he was honest and he liked to pray before an image of Mary, the Mother of God: “Madame, take care of my life until it may please God that I shall die, and when I die let me have the joys of paradise.“

One cold, rainy night as he walked along a road he met a monk who befriended him. The monk told Barnabas it would be better to be a monk in a monastery than to be a juggler. So Barnabas became a monk. In the monastery he noticed the monks contributing their skill, learning and service for the glory of God.   

At Christmas, each monk would bring his finest work and offer it as a gift to Mary. Barnabas felt sad because he did not have a gift to offer to the Mother of God. Then he had an idea. He went to the chapel every day for an hour and happily did his best juggling tricks in front of Mary‘s statue. He was alone, or so he thought. The other monks wondered what he was doing and spied on him. The monks were aghast. When they were ready to drag Barnabas from the chapel, they saw Mary’s statue come to life, descend from her altar, smile, bless Barnabas, and wipe the perspiration from his forehead with her blue mantle. The Prior, witnessing this, fell to his knees and said: “Blessed are the pure of heart; for they shall see God.“  “Amen,” replied the monks.

The juggler’s story illustrates how a simple act can make others smile and experience joy. He demonstrated the beauty of a simple delight. When watching a juggler we can experience spontaneous and carefree laughter and unbelievable wonder at silly antics and fearless skills that do not require expensive electronics, complex props or detailed instructions. The juggler teaches us that the lightheartedness of simplicity is especially valuable in these complicated times.

Because it promotes a healthy sense of realism, simplicity is a dear teacher. We gradually learn to pass through surface realities that support current trends and take pleasure in our inner reality that is rooted in God. As we let go of our self centeredness, we grow in our spiritual union with God. Letting go of nonessential externals gently and willingly distances us from the superficialities society deems important. Media ads that flash: “Buy Me,” “Be Happy with Me,” or “Use Me,” no longer influence us as they once did. As we work through our narcissistic tendencies, we try to overcome them with the help of God. Simplicity helps us to be ourselves as sons and daughters of God. When we belong to God, we look beyond perplexing situations and trust they will be a means for our integration and sanctification. Quiet introspection reveals recognition and respect for our abilities and limitations as we manage daily stresses and demands. Our personal goals are important but instead of total attention to their results, we enjoy each moment along the journey toward them.  

Our lives are busy with things to do and things to have. However, many possessions weigh us down and delay or stop our journey in faith because of the time they require. Too much time is spent acquiring, paying for, cleaning and maintaining things and ultimately disposing of them. All this takes concentration and energy. When do we say, “This is enough, I am satisfied with what I have?” We need to put boundaries on spending and tend to our basic needs instead of catering to our ever changing wants. If we can live with ‘enough’ we will worry less about what is unnecessary. William Wordsworth wrote,

The world is too much with us, late and soon. Getting and spending we lay waste our powers.

How many of us are guilty of wasting our powers?

Although simplicity may not have a direct connection with a serious issue, it elevates how we react to it and can dilute inordinate stresses from it. A light hearted limerick can restore a sense of well being and provide a welcome respite from somber conjecture. It helps the situation stay in the present moment, and may even cause laughter at ourselves.

Reinhold Niebuhr wrote, “All of us ought to be ready to laugh at ourselves because all of us are a little funny in our foibles, conceits and pretensions. What is funny about us is precisely that we take ourselves too seriously. We are rather insignificant little bundles of energy and vitality in a vast organization of life. But we pretend that we are the very center of this organization. This pretension is ludicrous and its absurdity increases with our lack of awareness of it. The less we are able to laugh at ourselves, the more it becomes necessary and inevitable that others laugh at us.” It is better to stay in the present than to moan and complain about what can happen in the future. One simple word of encouragement can inspire someone to do something good, give hope, or help overcome fear and uncertainties. A simple story can teach a profound lesson, like Aesop’s fable about the turtle and the rabbit. Teresa of Calcutta said, “It is not the magnitude of our actions, but the amount of love that is put into them that matters.” Her Missionaries of Charity show that good works are usually simple and done without notice.

In truth, owning too much stuff builds up and gets in our way. Over stuffed rooms confuse our mind and encumber our soul. Too much stuff devours our freedom bit by bit. An uncluttered mind, soul, and living space decreases grim associations and other harmful thoughts that easily encumber us. A clear mind fosters simplicity that, in turn, makes more room for God in our soul. If we let go of thoughts that pull us down we allow God to calm us and lift us up. Slowing down and simplifying what we do makes time available for what is truly essential. Seeing the good in family, friends, work, play and parish expands our awareness of the beauty of God and his creation. Simplicity can mean doing nothing or relaxing through non-practical activities. Just lying on the grass, looking at the sky, and finding animals in the clouds can free the mind of worry. We increase our capacity to accept what God is teaching us and find him in unexpected little things such as a spring flower or autumn leaf. Life is holy and valuable in its ordinariness. In time, we learn that the sweet, simple things in life are the most rewarding. Therese of Lisieux gives us words to ponder, “Our Lord needs from us neither great deeds nor profound thoughts. Neither intelligence nor talents. He cherishes simplicity.” 

Holy Saturday

Simple faith is lived in the reality of Holy Saturday. There are no experiences of harsh suffering or death, resurrection or new life. We no longer need brilliant theological insights, or extraordinary religious experiences. It is highly doubtful that we will not be unduly disturbed if our religious activities did not produce their desired fruits. Interior and exterior spiritual hustle and bustle have decreased. We are hollowed out before and for God.  

Living in the nothings of Holy Saturday brings subtle changes. God becomes more known and more unknown. We discover him by chance, in tensions, and in odd places. We love God, not because of what he gives us, but because of who he is. He is primarily mystery and we are comfortable with that. Mystery removes Christians from conventional paths. We understand by not understanding. We feel a void inside, yet faith has never been more substantial. We arrive at a place to find God and he is there seeking us. As our life becomes simpler, our soul’s appreciation of mystery becomes more profound.

A Christian ponders the mystery of God in the simplest and most universal of all human activities, prayer. Prayer is a source for revitalization, and an utter enigma. It mysteriously leads us in our nothingness to him who is all. Silent prayer is more profound than wordy prayer. We find deep contentment in sitting quietly next to God and observe our longing for him converge with his longing for us. Spiritual peace remains even though prayer doesn’t bring what we want or answers our questions. The need to figure God out gives way to a settling into his mystery. God welcomes people to talk to him with simple and trustful words that come from the center of the heart.

Our prayers gradually lose their complexities. Long litanies or lengthy prayers are rare. The more we are inspired by simple prayer, the less we have to say. Words become inadequate. As we listen to the sounds of silence we realize our nothingness in the greatness of God. Yet we are faithful to daily prayers because they are the deepest expression of who we are as human beings. Simple prayer emerges as we release our grasp on prayer techniques and measured meditations. In silence, we keep company with him with reverence and respect. We are not embarrassed by our silent prayer because we let ourselves be embraced by God’s wordless embrace. In prayer, Therese of Lisieux advises us: 

For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look toward heaven; it is a cry of recognition and love, embracing both trial and joy.

She continues, “I [pray] like children who do not know how to read, I say very simply to God what I wish to say, without composing beautiful sentences, and he always understands me.” Her wisdom continues,

The nearer one gets to God, the simpler one becomes.

Our prayer blossoms into a deeper compassion and concern for others.

Simplicity is helpful in conversing with people. What we say is direct and clear. It stays with facts and evidence and does not wonder off into opinions, gossip, speculations, drama, or exaggerations. Simplicity helps us live with an upright heart but because of our ’me first’ society, this takes hard work. We believe in Jesus and do what he commands without excuses. Our faith is ever vigilant. In communicating we watch what we say: Is it necessary? Is it true? Is it kind? Augustine said: “Do not rejoice in earthly reality, rejoice in Christ, rejoice in his word, rejoice in his law. . . . There will be peace and tranquility in the Christian heart, but only as long as our faith is watchful; if, however, our faith sleeps, we are in danger.” Sleeping faith is not vigilant. A simple way of living keeps the heart watchful so we recognize the presence of God around and within us. Simplicity guides us to relax in the peace and presence of God in our soul. We are at ease here despite our apparent failures, and the weariness of life. Beneath the perplexities that mark our days we intuitively know life is not as serious as we think it to be. We live in hope and look forward to heaven.

A lighted votive candle represents prayer. A simple candle flame is a brilliant symbol of hope. It keeps the chill of darkness at bay by giving us light and warmth. Like a bird that sings in the dark before the dawn, a flame is a reminder that the sun will rise. May the flame of Christian hope always show the way to the flame of God’s love in the heart. The simplicity of a candle flame is a perpetual reminder of Christ our light.

In the simple words of an old Shaker hymn:  

‘Tis a gift to be simple, ’tis a gift to be free,
‘Tis a gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
‘Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When that true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend we shan’t be ashamed.
To turn, turn will be our delight,
‘Til by turning, turning we come round right.

‘Tis a gift to be loved and that love to return,
‘Tis a gift to be taught and a richer gift to learn,
And when we expect of others what we try to live each day,
Then we’ll all live together and learn to say:

When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend we shan’t be ashamed.
To turn, turn will be our delight,
‘Til by turning, turning we come round right.

‘Tis a gift to have friends and a true friend to be,
‘Tis a gift to think of others not to only think of ‘me’,
And when we hear what others really think and really feel,
Then we’ll all live together with a love that is real.