Less is More

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I had a quiet birthday yesterday with just family and it was a wonderful birthday.  As I look back on my life and say I've been blessed I can't help but think about how in many ways less is more.  When I was in college I was active in college life.  After college I worked for a couple of years as my wife finished with her degree and we went to seminary.  Those years were spent in study.  Then I went into ministry and discovered it wasn't for me and never had a desire to go back to the Church.  Except for a couple of years I never went back and never mussed it.  Still don't to this day.

My youngest son said he'd been really messed up had I stayed.  And I would have been too.  We had a three week trip to Europe for our 30th anniversary, 12 days of which were spent on a luxurious cruise ship.  We've had fabulous vacations in Mexico where my broth-in-law had a home with maids and our own chef.  Our son's vacationed there as graduation gifts from high school.  

We've taken a number of trips and have since been back to Europe once to visit my missionary brother.   But now I'm thinking our traveling days are mostly over except for trips to our NY home.  No more trips out of the country that I can see.  We've been to many important cities of Europe and don't plan to go back.  We don't own a home to ourselves, but my thinking is that this is good.  

We've sold our car and if we find we need one we'll find something.  But I can do without the headaches of ownership and that is another reason why less is more.  I've lived in seven states and plan to not leave Florida.  It gets hot and humid here, but I'll take Florida over northern winters any day of the year.  

I'm still heart conscious, because I have to be.  I can't do a lot in the Florida heat, but again, I'll take the heat over the cold any time.  We have air conditioning and can't live without it.  We look back on our various trips with great fondness and have many family memories of many places.  But again, less travel is more.  I've had enough turmoil and in that regard less is more.  

I've learned God's blessings aren't about the material in life, but more about the people in our lives.  And while my social contacts might be fewer these days, I can focus on the few.  And again, less is more.  So, I've learned less of something gives us more as a replacement.  And maybe that is true of time.  Maybe I have less time to live, but that gives me more time for living.  So, these are my thoughts this morning as I think that in every way less is more.  

I have more time to enjoy my pipes.  I have more time for those that matter.  I have less to worry about and more to appreciate what I have.  Martin Luther once said he held many things in his hands and lost them all, but what he has placed on God's hands he still possessed.  A perfect example of how less is more.  I'm enjoying my Dunhill Rhodesian pipe with my Old Professor tobacco this morning while drinking a cup of Amazon Fresh from Peru coffee.  Thank you for your time and Peace to each one of you.

Dave

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