Simplicity and Enough

Greetings once again to all who are reading this magazine. As I reflect, what comes to mind is the picture of an ancient couple that I visited in their home in a run-down area of Mokpo in Korea in the early 1980’s when I was a pastor there. Their house was an old wood and mud construction with a straw roof at a time when concrete buildings were taking over. I had a picture of them standing there looking at me, the grandmother in an old fox fur coat (where did she get that?!), the grandfather in traditional white Korean linen baggy pants and jacket. I had sat with them talking for a while and was leaving. They were thanking me for visiting them. I don’t think either of them could read or write. Their simplicity was profound. Many of us would be quick to call them “poor.” They certainly did not have most of the things we think we need — electricity, running water, refrigerator, TV. They had a clay pot or two of buried kimchi in the yard, a place to make a fire to boil water, and part of a roof over their heads. In Luke’s Gospel Jesus says: “Blessed are you poor, the Kingdom of God is yours.” (Lk 7:20) There is often a connection between being poor and being simple in a profound way.

Another ancient grandmother comes to mind. In that same parish I met her in the local clinic recovering from being hit by a car. She had bruises all over and was complaining about how the medicines, pills, shots, etc. she was getting weren’t helping at all. She just moaned that if she could only get some dogs in there to come and lick her wounds she would get better fast. I doubt she was aware of the story of Lazarus in front of the rich man’s house who had dogs licking his sores. (Lk 16:20-24) But here she was wishing she had those dogs. At the time, I saw her as a poor woman. But now I’m inclined to see her more as a simple soul.

This simplicity is a gift of lacking a lot of “stuff.” Because these people were living on the edge of life and society, they were able to find a peace and contentment that so many of us who have a lot of stuff can’t seem to find. The ways of their parents were enough. Simple food, having some space around, dogs to lick their wounds were enough. I think these folks are also much more in touch with their own mortality. Death is part of life and not so scary. It makes me think of Job in the Old Testament: “Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb, and naked I return. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21) Simple acceptance.

It’s hard to say how much I have grown from these experiences, but they certainly are part of my journey as a missionary and I treasure them dearly. The words “simplicity” and “enough” are often in my head now. Two very important words for us all.

God bless all who walk with us on our journey as Columbans, yesterday and today. May our experience of Spring that we are entering into this time of year, ground us in the simplicity of life when we think about it.