Monday of the Third Week of Lent

"A Simple Way Out"

Most of us complain about how busy we are, how stressed out we feel and how complicated life has become. With all the advances in technology, we had anticipated that life would run smoother. Such is not the case, however, because every “advance” seems to bring its own complications. Computers, for example, do in moments what once took hours and days, but the instruction manuals that accompany computer programs are often as thick as the old phone book (am I dating myself?) and can take time to master.

Many of us may long, therefore, for a less complicated life. The good news is that a simple and less stressful way of living is within reach and the scripture readings today offer some suggestions. Things don’t have to be complicated if we don’t want them to be. In the reading from the Second Book of Kings, for example, the military man, Naaman, is stricken with leprosy and comes to the prophet Elisha for a cure. Elisha bids him to go bathe in a local river. As a commander of the Syrian army, however, Naaman is a very complicated man and goes into “a rage” over such a simplistic and unchallengingly “soft” approach to his cure. But, in the end, a dip in the river is all it takes!

Life is not complicated; we complicate life with our own inventiveness. We have substantial maintenance problems, for instance, because we own too much. We buy “time and labor saving” gadgets and find that they take even more time and labor to use and clean. We have enormous expectations of people and end up with enormous disappointments. It is possible, however, to bring a great measure of peace and simplicity to our lives if we evaluate our attitudes in a spiritually discerning way and actually search for simpler solutions and remedies. In the gospel reading from Luke, we see an example of Jesus in handling difficult people and dangerous situations – he simply walks away! Uncomplicate your life with as quest for simplicity.

Tell the truth and you won’t have to work at cover-up stories.

If your job is really more than you can take, quit and find an easier one.

Avoid unhealthy habits and it is likely your health will take care of itself. If bad news wearies you, power off your television.

Stop believing every commercial and you won’t be so depressed that you’re missing out on something important.

Stop worrying about what the neighbors think and you won’t have to do so much to make good impressions.

Change your priorities and you may find you don’t have to be so busy.

Always keep in mind the part you play in making life complicated. A simple way out may be just a matter of walking away.