Paring down

There is a simplicity and minimalism about winter landscape images that I find appealing. A covering of snow allows me to focus on one particular thing, with nothing to distract attention from the main object of interest.

Simplicity can be a help in many ways, from benefitting from a decluttering of our home to a wordless contemplation of God’s presence.

Letting go of the inessential allows us to pay attention to what is truly important. One of the complaints that Jesus had about the scribes and Pharisees was that they paid so much attention to the rituals of the Mosaic Law that they lost their connection with the heart of God.

Connection with the heart of God allows us to see the world as God sees it. “God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good” (Genesis 1:31). This connection with the heart of God, this ability to see with the eyes of God, can lead to many things: appreciation for creation, desire to help keep creation beautiful and healthy, self-education on environmental issues, supporting the goodness of others, etc. Where is your connection with the heart of God leading you?

“This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.” (Mark 7:6-7)