The Simple Life

Henry David Thoreau came to my attention recently. Really the only clear views I had of him in my mind before I began reading about him was that he lived in the woods and he viewed nature (Nature) with a sense, and perhaps an unhealthy sense, of awe and magnificence. I have yet to begin reading his actual writings, but I have read about half of the introduction to the anthology of his works. In the first few pages of this introduction, the author highlights some of Thoreau's views on life, and I believe that at least a few of them have parallels into Christianity. As far as I know Thoreau had no ties to the Church in any respect, so I'm not saying that this man's life was by any means one that endeavored to follow Christ, but I do believe that Christians can learn a few things about how this man lived. As a side note: by all means, share with me any concerns, disagreements or quarrels you may have with what I have said and/or what I am about to say.

What I am concerned with in this entry is what the very title offers: the simple life. I have thought about this very topic since I read Shane Claiborne's Irresistible Revolution. That was almost three years ago, but since then I have read other authors and books (Thomas Merton and the Gospels being examples) and have made observations about the world around me that lead me to one very simple quotation from Mr. Thoreau: "Simplify." I am not saying that I have figured out the meaning of life, but I do say that simplification is necessary in a very complex world. I refer mostly to materialistic simplification when I speak of a simple life. (i.e. having only one or no TV in your house or perhaps having a two bedroom house for a family of three instead of a four or five bedroom house with a basement and a play room and a storage room and three bathrooms, etc, etc.) Jesus refers to material simplicity in several circumstances. First, when he sends out the twelve, he commands them to "acquire no gold nor silver nor copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, nor two tunics nor sandals nor a staff, for the laborer deserves his food" (Matthew 10: 9-10). There are also other instances when Jesus refers to a person gaining the whole world but losing his soul, or when Jesus tells a man to sell all he possesses and follows up that the wealthy would sooner watch a camel pass through the eye of a needle than enter the Kingdom of Heaven. All this to say that I don't believe that anyone who makes over fifty grand a year or any person with a three level house cannot be in the Kingdom. I am saying, and I believe Jesus gets at this too, that a materially simple existence is far wiser, far more pleasing, and far better for the Kingdom of God than one lived in astute opulence and comfort.

Thoreau poignantly states in one of his works that, "the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." Why is this? Thoreau is partially right in his response-- "Simplify." Man must simplify his life. However, the key to this equation has been overlooked by Mr. Thoreau. This key lies in the person of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Peace and love and joy like no other found on earth or above it are found in the life, the wounds, and the resurrection of this, our Savior.

On the flip side of Thoreau there are many who follow Christ in 21st century America who fall into this desperate mass of men. My message to them is this: Simplify.