In this season of fear and uncertainty, many of us are learning how to adjust to less. Less toilet paper, less hand sanitizer, less fresh fruit. What do we fill that lack with? Who do we fill that lack with?
More than 30 years ago, my husband and I built a minimalist modern house, shaped like a triangle. It’s a long story–and it was a really long building nightmare because nothing was square, and we ran into an underground spring within the first week of digging.
Less is more.
Mies van der Rohe
This Mies van der Rohe motto came true. Less is more. More money, more time, more frustration, more bewildered onlookers. “It looks like a dentist office,” said one acquaintance.
It became our home, and there we raised our two children. Joyfully. (We don’t live there anymore, but that is another story for another time.)
I tried to use the Less Is More motto when it came to their toys, play dates, screen time, candy, and all those parenting challenges.
Less can be more, for sure.
Learning about Less
Today, with COVID-19 many of us are learning about less.
Less toilet paper. (And this one perplexes me.) Less hand sanitizer, less fresh fruit, less produce, less milk.
And the really challenging one?
Less certainty.
Yet here’s where faith steps in. Less certainty about all the daily goings-on of life, the important things that fill our usual waking hours–things like work and food and health and day care and school and hand-washing and sickness and travel and and and.
So how do we adjust to less?
When there is less certainty about all this, there is more need for faith.
I’m not talking about faith in what the government is doing or faith in the 20-second hand-washing. It’s not faith in the pharmaceutical companies figuring out the next vaccine or anti-viral. I am thankful for all these, yes.
But faith.
That’s found somewhere else.
This morning I was so hungry for my devotional time. I needed it desperately. I needed a few good words, a promise, the peace that passes all understanding. So I sat down with my Bible and my devotional book for today’s reading. (My hubby and I have been following Today’s Light which is a wonderful 2-year walk through the Bible.)
Today’s reading was Numbers 1-3. I’ll be honest. Ugh. I know. That was my first thought. Not a healthy thought.
I need comfort, Lord, and You’re giving me numbers?
Ugh.
(I’m sorry if you thought I was a “good Christian” and didn’t have those kind of thoughts. I do. And I’m not a good Christian, I’m a redeemed sinner. I talk about this here.)
Anyway, you know where this is going. God didn’t disappoint. His Word and that devotion were exactly what I needed to read today.
Yes, it was about counting the number of warriors and showing how they arranged themselves in the camp with their tents and their standards. “The rest of the people of Israel will set up their tents in companies, every man in his own camp under its own flag.” (MSG)
And this, a snippet from the devotional: “We are our Lord’s divisions, or ‘hosts,’ His troops. He marches with us into the world as, heart by heart, we touch lives with the precious Gospel of our Lord Jesus. The victory is already ours because He has won it for us.” The devotion closed by asking us to consider what our flag or banner might look like today.
How to Adjust to Less: Focus on Him
What banner am I carrying? Okay. Wow.
Is this my banner? HELP!
Or this? Move out of my way, I need TP?
Or this? Stay away. I’m going to huddle under the covers until this passes by.
Or does my banner say, “This is a Christ camp. Right here. In my heart. What can I do for you, my neighbor, my friend, my family?”
Less Is More. Less of me. More of Him.
That is how you adjust to less. There’s a great song that’s in my head right now. Listen here if you have time.
Priestly Blessing
I’ll leave you with a passage from Numbers. (I forgot this one is in Numbers. It’s so beautiful. Sorry I said ugh about Numbers earlier.)
The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26 (ESV)
Now I’m going to wash my hands one more time and sing the Doxology.
Looking for more devotions and reflections on faith? Click here.
Photo by twinsfisch on Unsplash
