“Simplify,” comes the voice. “Is it that simple?” I ask. Indeed it is.
I am learning that “Stuff” doesn’t make one happy. Happiness comes from within, from connecting to God. Once that connection is made, all the hording, materialism, jealousy, hatred, bitterness, etc just have a tendency to slip away. It really makes me wonder when Jesus asked a rich young man to go sell all that he had and follow him, WHY this man who apparently had been living the commandments was kept from heaven on earth and possibly in the hereafter because of the “stuff”, the earthly security that he clung to.
Do I cling to stuff that is keeping me from God? Recently a group of friends challenged each other to a 40 Day Challenge which began with a fast. During the fast we were to seek God and discuss with him the things that are holding us back from walking by faith, seeking with new eyes, and being led by the Spirit. It was during this quiet contemplation, as it usually is, that I saw things that “poked” at my spirit, distracting me from a focus on God and how things “really are.” Since then, things have piled up to gently testify to me that there is a God and that he is perfectly mindful of me. He has a work that no one can stop and if we tap into his will for us we not only find internal peace and greater happiness, but we find purpose, meaning and clarity beyond belief.
So, there it is…a summary of the latest “stuff” going on with me. I’ve even considered pulling a Henry David Thoreau. Who knows were the next little bit will take me, but I’m confident more than ever, wherever it is I know the Lord prepares a way for his commands to be fulfilled (1 Ne 3:7) and that I’ll most likely be moving ahead, guided by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I will be doing (1 Ne 4:6).
Here’s trusting in God rather than voices that drown out the still small voice.
May the Lord be with you on your journey…keep Him by your side! I love you!
Totally! Thanks Mom!
I feel like that has been my entire NY experience, which is rather ironic. I have been stripped from all worldly goods and I see everything in the world and especially myself in a new way. All we really need is God, good friends, love, and being able to share who we truly are with others. As we share and give of ourselves, we are filled. It is the sharing I still struggle a bit with – but I am sure trying hard to mend that.
Ryan, I am excited for you – beautiful things come when we slow down and meditate. When we stop and listen – when we truly begin to SEE. Ryan I love your spirit. You always seek to do good and the Lord will bless you because you earnestly seek him.
Thank you for putting up that video – for me the challenge has been getting lost in heart ache so that I can not always hear the spirit. Your journey will take you to many beautiful, untapped regions of your soul. What beauty the Lord has in store for us when we start searching. What a blessed time for you Ryan. Blessed indeed.
Yeah, Jilleen, it’s totally a good thing to let go of the world. Not so easy, but absolutely necessary I think. Thanks for your nice comments. I to appreciate where you’ve been and who you are.
Here’s something interesting! World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. I think I can dig it!
Ryan,
I remember the few months when we were room-mates. All of my belongings fit into 2 cubic feet of space. I literally dream about living life in such simplicity, and I love the thought of never being concerned about carrying more than what I need. I think that is why I sometimes go through my belongings and just feel sick with how much stuff I have. That’s when I gather up a few things and get them ready to give away. It’s like a reset button for me and I feel the spirit more closely when I make the effort to declutter.
Comment I posted on Facebook Oct 4, 2010:
So, during this last conference I had an interesting experience. I hadn’t felt solid strength in conference for some time, ESP not like when I was in college. But for some reason I decided to prepare for this one by reviewing the last one. So, each day for the last 3 weeks or so I spent reading a conference talk or two, quietly each morning in my back yard with my bare feet finding solace intertwined with the long blades of grass.
It happened slowly, almost like watching my plants grow back there. But compounded over time, it WAS noticeable…I was starting to “feel” again. I was spending time in prayer asking that my eyes would see what I wasn’t seeing on my own. I was indeed seeking for answers. Answers that I needed to help me find peace that I kept grasping for, but seemed to disappear just as smoke would when trying to hold it.
It was in this simple morning ritual that I started again to feel impressions or guidances, simple, but sure direction for myself. Some things I felt impressed to do were to remove all my books from my room, reduce the time I spent working so I could have more balance and connect with friends in meaningful and guided ways.
This little effort created in me a thirst and excitement to participate in conference this time around, similar to how I used to be. And during conference I had moment after moment where I would hear a phrase resonate clearly with something I had already been moved upon to think about, write or do during my backyard study. It felt clearly like a validation from heaven. In those many moments during conference I knew that I was being led. And not all things that I felt to do during my backyard sessions were explicitly written in the words I was studying.
Such an amazing place to be, a fragile one, one that must be protected if it’s important to me. But in the end all the thanks and praise must go to the God that gave us all life and who didn’t leave us without direction here on earth. “When our sacred doctrine & beliefs are challenged,” said Bishop Edgely, as mine has been recently, “this is our opportunity to become acquainted with God in a most private and intimate manner.” (http://new.lds.org/general-conference/sessions?lang=eng&bcpid=610705729001&bctid=623525042001)
Similarly, Brad Wilcox says on a talk tape, “We don’t have to seek out others who are struggling so we feel justified. And we certainly don’t have to hate those that don’t struggle so that we can feel better. And we don’t have to surrender to addictions and hate ourselves, as easy as that is to do. Instead, we simply have to let faith be an anchor to our souls.”
I’m not sure why those quotes came to mind, I guess it’s just that it is so easy to give in to the voices that say what we’ve known to be true isn’t. And while it is so hard to see sometimes, the help we seek is always right there, waiting for us to seek. I KNOW all it takes is a little alone time with God to reestablish again the foundations of our faith and that our faith is what anchors & grounds us. That idea I really tried to express in basic terms here: https://www.ryanmendenhall.com/blog/2010/09/29/the-essence-of-prayer.htm
Thanks to all my friends who give my life meaning. Thanks to family who has given me much joy and opportunity to grow. And thanks to God for his patience with my wandering and for always being there to embrace me when I return to him.