Kasey Hitt, MDiv, CSD
  • Home
  • About
  • Offerings
    • Spiritual Direction
    • Dreamwork
    • Reiki
    • Silent Retreats
    • Groups & Seminars
  • Wisdom Tree Collective
    • Train to be a Spiritual Director >
      • Spiritual Direction Program Information
    • Retreats, Classes & Groups
    • Planting Trees
  • Schedule/Pay
  • Events
    • Sign up for E-news
    • Register & Pay for Events
  • Writing
    • Blog
    • Prayers
    • Liturgical Year >
      • Advent Audio Divina
      • Advent Guided Prayer
      • Longest Night Service
      • Lent
    • Video & Audio
    • Retreatants Only
  • More
    • What Others Are Saying
    • Spiritual Direction Disclosure Form
    • Reiki Client Information Form
    • Common Questions & Answers
    • Resources >
      • Quotes
      • Links
      • Recommended Reading
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

It's a Gift to Be Simple...How is that a Gift?! (Part 3 of 3)

7/27/2021

 
Our life experiences color the lenses through which we see the world, including words! 

When seeing the words “simplicity” and “settling,” my friend, Norman, could not help but reflect on his work-life.  Having been in the military, then working internationally and later on in ministry with an itinerant system, his life was anything but simple or settled! 

Upon deeper reflection, he saw the positive sides, or wisdom, in both words.  He offered me a quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer to explain (I'm including a longer version of it for context): 
“A man can hold his own here only if he can combine simplicity with wisdom…To be simple is to fix one’s eye solely on the simple truth of God at a time when all concepts are being confused, distorted and turned upside down…The wise man is the one who sees reality as it is, and who sees into the depths of things. That is why only that man is wise who sees reality in God…There is no true simplicity without wisdom and there is no wisdom without simplicity.”
 
-Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Ethics, ed. Eberhard Bethge (New York: Macmillan, 1955) 70-71.
Within this quote I, too, saw wisdom in both “simplicity” and “settling.”
 
And I was reminded of the Benedictine vow of “stability.”  There’s a literal vow of stability for the Catholic men and women who commit to enter into, and be faithful to, a particular community in a particular place.  It is fascinating to hear the stories of those who have been in a particular monastery for 40 years or more. 

However, this literal vow to a place may be an impossibility for many of us as it was for Norman during his working years (though it is much more of a possibility during his retirement years!). 
 
There is also a metaphorical or figurative vow of stability which is remaining focused on the Kingdom of God or what Bonhoeffer calls the “simple truth of God” wherever one finds oneself. 

This does not mean ceasing to question or doubt, both of these can deepen faith (as working through questions and doubts in a marriage can deepen the relationship).  In fact, settling our eye on the simple truth of God frees us to question and doubt!

One could say that "settling" in this context invites one's gaze to "rest and remain" on God.
 
So for Norman (& for us), “settling” does not have to be a negative word meaning a life-draining “giving up” or “resignation” and “simplicity” is not something that only occurs in retirement! 

​Instead, both can be the foundation for a creative life with God as we allow ourselves to see “reality as it is” by diving deeper into “simplicity” and “settling” as ways of Wisdom. 

____________________________
Spiritual Direction is a wonderful place to explore "simplicity" and "settling" in your own life.
 
Picture
Lutheran pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer found sanctuary at Ettal, a Benedictine monastery in the Bavarian Alps. It was in their library that he worked on his book, "Ethics." My friend Norman and his wife, Sandy, last visited Ettal in 2006. Photo: Ettal Monastery Church by Zairon, CC

It's a Gift to Be Simple...How is that a Gift?! (2 of 3)

7/20/2021

 
PicturePhoto by Mariana Beltrán on Unsplash
I asked my dear friend, Linda, what she thought the difference between "simplicity" and "settling" were and her answer surprised me.

"Simplicity asks, 'What do you truly want?''"

She went on, "With settling, I may settle for what I don't want and since it's not what I want, I keep looking for it.'"

Then she shared an example from her own life. 

Many years ago, a woman asked if she wanted a certain set of dishes for her wedding and if she did, this woman would buy them for her.  She really did not want them, but she felt uncomfortable saying "no" so she received them as a wedding gift.  Since she had them and could get more pieces to match, she expanded her collection of dishes she did not want but settled for.  But she noticed something. 

Whenever she was at a store that sold dishes, she looked at the patterns.  Years of time and energy were spent on looking for dishes when she already had a full set!  Her longing was left unsatisfied because she had settled so many years ago, afraid of offending the gift-giver.

Now having retired, she decided it was not too late and she knew what she wanted.  Much to the surprise of her family (who never knew she did not like the dishes!), she decided to box up her collection and put them for sale on a neighborhood social media site .  Then she went out and bought the dishes she truly wanted, a beautiful butterfly pattern.  Another woman happened to see the dishes she had for sale and was overjoyed for she had been looking for those exact dishes because they reminded her of her mother!  

Both were full of joy and satisfied with their purchases.

Guess what happened after that?  My friend stopped looking for dishes!  

We went on to talk about how we tend to buy things that are only on sale or we get what is cheap because we can have "more" of the item.  Sometimes this is okay, but when it becomes a pattern, our collection of unwanted, unused stuff grows along with our dissatisfaction which compares and wants more.  

What do you truly want?  
It can be a difficult question.  We need to stop and think rather than compulsively or fearfully say "yes" to what we do not want (or allowing others to decide for us or think we should want what others have).

Jesus often asked people like blind Bartimaeus, "What do you want me to do for you?"  
It's not that Jesus could not see what Bartimaeus wanted, He wanted Bartimaeus to "see" and say for himself!

It is a simple question.  
Yet answering honestly may just simplify the amount of internal and external stuff that becomes a burden--now that's a gift!

​It’s a Gift to Be Simple…How is that a Gift?!  (Part 1 of 3)

7/14/2021

 
PicturePhoto by Jess @ Harper Sunday on Unsplash
It’s what the old Shaker song says, at least!  In fact, some lyrics say 'tis "the” rather than “a” gift to be simple.
 
But nothing seems simple anymore. 
 
We live in a world of information (and misinformation!) at our fingertips.  We're bombarded by choice at the grocery store and online.  Constant comparison is exacerbated through social media.  And stores like HomeGoods, Tuesday Morning, Ross, Overstock.com, Lowe's, Home Depot, and others are happy to feed our "more and better" obsession.

"Complex" is more apt to describe our times rather than "simple."  This is not necessarily a bad thing, it may be important to look at the complexities at work under the surface, rather than oversimplify an issue or situation (or even a person or group of people!).
 
So in our cultural context, what is the gift of simplicity?  And if we do discover it to be a gift, how do we go about receiving it? 

I began to return to simplicity in my blog last week, but I want to explore this question over the next few weeks as I glean from others' insights and experiences.  Maybe you have some wisdom to share with me as well (my daughter sure did)!
 
On a walk with my young teen earlier this week, I asked her, “What is the difference between simplicity and settling?”
 
“I think it has to do with what changes,” she replied.
 
She went on, “There can be all kinds of changes on the outside.  But when a person settles, there’s no change on the inside.”
 
“So for you, simplicity is a gift or practice that changes us…how interesting!  And, would you say that simplicity helps us deal with the changes on the outside of us?”
 
“Yes, I mean, that makes sense to me.”
 
“What a good perspective!  I’m going to be thinking about simplicity and change for a while.”

 _________________________________

What does the dance between simplicity & change offer you?
 
I am invited to continue exploring simplicity as both a gift and a practice that offers deep change—peace and inner transformation.  

Simplicity may change me by changing the way I view “all the things.” 
 
Perhaps it gives the gift of discerning eyes when faced with a storm of choice and change!

My Piecemeal House (& Dancing Back to Simplicity)

7/7/2021

 
Mine is the piecemeal house
with patched couch
peeling and cracked cabinets
broken back-slat chairs
Clutter made up of books,
boxes, and bags of
papers, poetry, and prayers.


-My Piecemeal House, Kasey Hitt, 2021
 
One day I got caught up in the comparison game and found myself on the losing side. 
Comparison games are anxiety-causing no matter what side you're on and being on the losing side most often leads to feelings of shame.  So to get my feelings out rather than get stuck in them, I scribbled down this poem.  The last line surprised me as it invited a shift.  It was a call to come home to a value and spiritual practice I appreciate but can often lose sight of: Simplicity.
 
On Sunday, my husband played the old Shaker song on the piano, “Tis the Gift to Be Simple” (aka "Simple Gifts").  The rest of us sang.  We started having fun with it by playing multiple versions on Amazon Music—fast and slow tempos, lyrics and instrumentals, solo singers and choirs, brass, dulcimer, and piano versions…
 
We stopped once we got sick of the song!  However, listening to it over and over helped us hear, meditate, and move with it so the message could go from head to heart.
 
'Tis the gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free
'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend we shan’t be ashamed,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come ’round right.
 
When I revisited my poem, I saw how the words started with my feelings of shame as I described some worn-out parts of my house. It ended with words that led me deeper into the soul(s) residing there.  A spontaneous smile and warmth replaced the shame.  And right here in my house, just as it is, in a neighborhood with “valley” in its name, I discovered love and delight. 

______________________
  • Have you ever felt like what you have or who you are is embarrassing or not enough?
  • How might you be invited to turn and recognize the gift of simplicity (& the freedom, love, and delight it offers) today?
  • How might you be invited to share your "simple gifts" with others?   
Picture
This is my in-person Spiritual Direction space. So many people have sat on that couch (it's been with me since my very first directee!) and I've spent many hours reading and listening in my Craigslist-find chair!

    Author

    Kasey is a scarf, ball and club juggling spiritual director just outside of Nashville, TN.  Play helps her Type-A, Enneagram 1 personality relax, creating space for poetry and other words to emerge. She also likes playing with theological ideas like perichoresis, and all the ways we're invited into this Triune dance.  

    Archives

    February 2023
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    March 2020
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016

    Categories

    All
    Advent
    Anger
    Animals
    Art
    Atonement
    Awareness Examen
    Beauty
    Body And Movement
    Body Of Christ
    Centering Prayer
    Children
    Community
    Conscious Breathing
    Conversation
    Creation
    Darkness
    Discernment
    Divine Feminine
    Dreams
    Easter
    Epiphany
    Faith Development
    Freedom
    Gratitude
    Holy Spirit
    Holy Week
    Image Of God
    Imagination
    Intercession
    Jesus
    Juggling
    Justice
    Lament
    Laying On Of Hands
    Lectio Divina
    Lent
    Liturgical Year
    Love
    Meditation
    New Year
    Pain
    Perfectionism
    Play
    Poetry
    Prayer
    Presence
    Saints & Mystics
    Scripture
    Shame
    Silence
    Spiritual Direction
    Spiritual Growth
    Spiritual Practices
    Suffering
    Surrender
    Thanksgiving
    Theology
    Vocation & Calling
    Wisdom
    Wisdom Tree Collective
    Worship Music

    RSS Feed

Schedule your own session or read What Others Are Saying!
Picture
Sign up for E-News
Picture

By clicking “Sign up for E-News” I consent to the collection and secure storage of this data as described in the Privacy Policy. The information provided on this form will be used to provide me with updates and marketing. I understand that I may modify or delete my data at any time.
  • Home
  • About
  • Offerings
    • Spiritual Direction
    • Dreamwork
    • Reiki
    • Silent Retreats
    • Groups & Seminars
  • Wisdom Tree Collective
    • Train to be a Spiritual Director >
      • Spiritual Direction Program Information
    • Retreats, Classes & Groups
    • Planting Trees
  • Schedule/Pay
  • Events
    • Sign up for E-news
    • Register & Pay for Events
  • Writing
    • Blog
    • Prayers
    • Liturgical Year >
      • Advent Audio Divina
      • Advent Guided Prayer
      • Longest Night Service
      • Lent
    • Video & Audio
    • Retreatants Only
  • More
    • What Others Are Saying
    • Spiritual Direction Disclosure Form
    • Reiki Client Information Form
    • Common Questions & Answers
    • Resources >
      • Quotes
      • Links
      • Recommended Reading
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact