What is the key to happiness?

Simplicity may have the answer to a complex question

Being a pastor is one of the most unique jobs on the planet for many reasons. One such reason is that, for many pastors, there is as much work as you could possibly want.

I know some pastors who do not work a normal 40 hour workweek, but instead find themselves participating in something much less active. To be fair, and in their defense, I do not think pastoral ministry should be judged on an hourly basis. I believe pastors should be paid on their expertise and their results. If they can meet all the qualifications of the job in 20 hours because they are extremely effective, is that not worth the same pay?

That said, in my experience it is impossible to do all that needs done in 20 hours. Maybe I am just not there yet in my skill development. But visiting people, making organizational decisions, planning and organizing and conducting events, and preparing and delivering teachings take a lot of time. On top of that, pastors spend hours in prayer over their members, their family and friends. Their phone is almost always on, and it is hard to separate life away from the Church, because pastors love it.

There have been easy weeks in ministry, but there have been many more weeks where I have been spread too thin. Occasionally life becomes too much and my soul cries out for rest.

Maybe you have been there as well.

The things you are doing are not bad, but it may be that you are doing too many things.

Too many good activities sours them all. The things you really enjoy become overcrowded and deafened by the the other good things you are trying to accomplish.

So what do we do?

“Yes’s” and “No’s”

When we talk about simplicity, we often immediately think about cutting things out of our life. I do not find this as a very effective form of simplifying your life. Starting from a place of negativity, of cutting, can be painful and lead to discouragement.

Instead I like to focus on the things that I will say absolutely “yes” to.

If I am in a position of cutting always just to free up time, it may be the case I cut away something that actually gives me life and is core to my being. But if I spend time focusing on the things that are most important and I decide to only do things that encourage growth in the things that are most important, then it naturally filters out activities that do not support the purpose of my life.

I see saying “yes” to the most important things with the same way I see my marriage. By saying yes to Olga, I am saying definitively no to every other lady out there. She is my one and only.

To uphold the marriage, I also have to say no to many other opportunities that might infringe on the ability of the marriage to prosper. I do so easily, because of how important this relationship is.

The filter of saying “yes” can be used in all the major areas of simplification which include categories like:

• Time

• Finances

• Possessions

• Relationships

• Health

• Desires

Stepping Out

When in the midst of a busy life, it feels like we are swimming in a rushing river. It is hard to know if what we are doing is good, directed toward our purpose, or delivering value and happiness.

Every once in awhile you need to step out of the stream to see if your life is headed in the right direction. It may be that you have been heading in the wrong direction for a long time.

It isn’t too late to take another direction. It isn’t too late to start living.

It starts with simplicity, by deciding what is most important and saying “yes” to the right things.

This is part of a much larger conversation on simplicity. If I wrote I book on simplicity using wisdom from modern thinkers and biblical writings, would you read it?

Feel free to respond to this email, I would love to get your feedback. Thanks!