“Less is more.”
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
A few years ago I was at a conference in Washington State and I got up early to read my Bible and drink a cup of coffee. I found a local Starbucks and sat at a table in the corner—thinking that I was in an out-of-the-way, quiet place. Unfortunately my table was also near the place where the barista would set up the freshly made “coffee-like-drinks” and would also call out the description of the drink.
The variety and options that you can order at Starbucks are staggering. “Tall, no whip, extra hot, skinny, soy,upside-down, caramel macchiato.” The options must exceed a million.
A singer/songwriter named Keb Mo has a song called “Keep it Simple.” Part of his lyrics read:
“Well I went down to the local coffee store
The menu went from the ceiling all the way down to the floor
Decaf, cappuccino, or latte said the cashier
I said gimme a small cup of coffee and let me get the heck up outta here.”
In many ways we have too many options in our lives in America. This causes a number of problems for us.
The first problem with too many options is that we can be paralyzed by option overload. If the choice is “vanilla” or “chocolate” most of us can make a fairly quick decision between those two. If the choice is “which one of these 71 flavors” we can get immobilized by the array of options.
The second problem is that we can choose the wrong options—either the immoral option or the second class option. Some part of life is making choices between moral and immoral things. In my experience much more of life is making choices between the best things and the good things.
The third problem is that we can choose too many options. We can end up doing dozens of things poorly and the important things either poorly or not at all.
In our world of limitless options the trick is finding and pursuing “the essence” or the things of “core” importance right now.
Years ago I read a question that has helped me a great deal in relation to the issue of essence or core or high-leverage choices. Unfortunately I cannot remember the source. The author asked, “What three things, if pursued faithfully, would make an 80% difference in my life right now?”
Life has hundreds of “seasons” and in each of these seasons there are essential things that make the most difference. Certain foundational choices are right and essential for all seasons of life—pursuing God, service, humility, loving others well, purity, etc.
But in every season there are “seasonal choices” that get at the essence of what is important for me right now. As I have fought to think of and pursue the essence or core things for myself right now I have landed on three things. Simplicity. Physical fitness. Finish my book.
Regarding simplicity I am simply overloaded with appointments and commitments and stuff. I would experience a stark change for the better if I succeeded in living a simpler life.
Regarding physical fitness I have let my fitness slide in recent months and I am suffering for it and I am in a season of life where I cannot afford this.
Regarding my book it is completely written and I have been unfaithful in honing the chapters for months and months now. I need to just finish and move to the next step. I am not going to write the next great American novel but I do need to simply finish.
What is at the “essence” or the “core” for you in the current season of your life? What are the three things that would make the 80% difference in how you are experiencing life and how you are honoring God and how you are helping others?
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There are seasons of life when we need a “small cup of coffee” far more than we need a “tall, no whip, extra hot, skinny, soy, upside-down, caramel macchiato.”
The way Jesus said this is, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.”
The happy people are not the ones who have it all but the ones who have the essence.
Except, just don’t mess with my coffee.
Kelly no coffee was harmed in the writing of this blog!!
Thanks, Dave. You have expressed well a problem I’ve been sensing in my peripheral “vision” without really bringing it into focus. Now is the perfect time for me to actually give this issue careful consideration. As usual, you’ve enriched my llife with your perspective and experience. Thanks for sharing!
The great composer Ludwig van Beethoven was some kind of man. He composed some of his greatest musical works after he lost his hearing. He ultimately went stone deaf. As the thickness was drawing a veil over his auditory nerves, he had to rely more and more on the feelings in his fingers. At times he would even rest his forehead on the piano to hear the vibrations of what was being played. At one time, in a frustrated moment, he slammed both fists on the keyboard and shouted, “I will take life by the throat.”
Be courageous Pastor!
Lee (Anderson)
keyportlee@sbcglobal.net