Embracing Simplicity

 'Divine Heart in my Soul', 'Sacred Heart Divinity', these are some of the names I come up with while looking out the large window that overlooks the school, the majestic mountain and hillside and the 3 letters that have made me become creative with how I can rely on God's presence. There has been a lot of creativity and innovation this year, and its pretty amazing to say the least. God knows how humans work and function and also how much we are capable of. These past months have been no easy feat, and there is still more to come! But I now can look at the past with gratitude for what the present is giving and understand a little bit better. 

The way my job, and so many others' look now can feel almost laughable or sad of how things have drastically shifted and changed. I know I would be really upset if how things look now with my work, my schedule if it was 5 months prior. And though there is still enough to complain about, I feel that I was in a far worse spot in terms of not knowing, waiting and waiting, anticipating and hoping. But now my 'job' is to keep on hoping, but also to make due, and make the best of the situation at hand. 

Coming up with the acronyms like the ones I mentioned above are a simple thing, but helpful for me to see God at work in all the changes, uncertainty and even dullness. It draws me back to a spiritual realm that can often be forgotten when things start to feel  mundane, predictable or slightly boring, and trying to find joy in the ordinary. I was only recently complaining about life now looking really simple, or rather my schedule or how things appear now. But thinking it over and talking with my sweet sisters, praying about it and reading some saints' lives, brought me back to the reality that simple is where God reigns, and where we will find Him. And simplicity is what we are called to in various forms, and what the saints were called to as well. 

I'm reminded by what St. Maria Faustina writes about in her diary- Divine Mercy in my Soul. It's all about an intimate and deep prayer life with Jesus, and uniting her sufferings, work, misunderstandings, joys and prayers with Him. She had to undergone various trials in her faith and throughout her time in the convent life as a Mercy Nun, but her strive and desire for holiness and union with Our Lord is a beautiful example. She writes, "My life is not drab or monotonous, but it is varied like a garden of fragrant flowers, so that I don't know which flower to pick first, the lilly of suffering or the rose of love of neighbor or the violet of humility. It is a great thing ti know how to make use of the present moment!" She had a simple life, but one of joy, purpose and full of trust in God's plan. 

My dear sister recently finished reading about Saints Zelie and Louis Martin, the parents of well known, Saint Therese of Lisieux. Now I am reading more about them, their story, faith journey, home life, sufferings, trials, and joys. I see that Zelie's and Louis's lives were fairly simple, even before meeting each other. They had a divine meeting and felt called to one another in marriage though before that they both felt a desire for religious life. I'm really impressed by both of their strong faith life and spirituality and trust in God. And obedience in God's plans for their lives, St. Zelie a lace maker, and St. Louis a watch maker they pursued a strong work ethic and I greatly admire them for that. As well as a  commitment to their family. I was praying to St. Louis as I was finding a watch to purchase today, and I find one though its very simple, its useful and another simple way to remember him. 

God shows us other ways for simplicity, and He is the best teacher since the world is easily carried away by complexities, drama, and mere noisiness. I recall a few years back creating a whole list of things I wanted to accomplish in a few months time (it was an Autumn list). I remember getting energized and excited thinking of ideas and new things brainstorming and writing it while I was at the library. 

However, I remember getting too consumed with all these ideas that it almost felt like checking them off would create for a 'better' season in ways of productivity, beauty, ect... It was by doing rather than enjoying, or taking things in that was the main force. Don't get me wrong, I love making lists alynd getting inspired through it but I see more beauty with accepting the present and not getting over worried by the outcome. As I wrote in my notebook recently as a little reminder to myself, "Embrace the present, don't look for changes, accept, appreciate, love what you have been given. It will lead you to where God has planned and prepared you to go."