“Simplicity is the secret to seeing things clearly,”—Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest
cre_200615_00805-es
“Our Lord must be repeatedly astounded at us—astounded at how ‘un-simple’ we are. It is our own opinions that make us dense and slow to understand.”—Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest.
I’m a simple Christian. I’m not saying the life of a Christian is simple—It isn’t. Please, let me explain.
“Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am?”—John 14:9 [NLT]
“The Lord is my shepherd, I have all that I need.”—Psalm 23 [NLT]. My life is as simple as that!
In 1901, my grandmother, a single lady at the time, traveled from Wichita, KS., to southwest Oklahoma and obtained land when they opened the Kiowa-Comanche-Apache Reservation (KCA) for settlement. I’ve lived in southwest Oklahoma all my life. As far as I know, a cousin and I are the only members of the family left in the State—except for those, and there are many, buried in the red clay of its cemeteries.
I grew up on the plains running my horse, Honey Boy, across grassy pastures and over terraces that followed the contour of the land—I decided, then, I don’t like fences.
In winter, among the mesquite trees and wild plum thickets, I hunted rabbits in the snow and quail on days of the week with an “r” in them.
In the winds of spring, I flew kites until the string broke and then I’d chase those same kites now flying free in those same winds. Or, I’d lie on my back in the tall grass playing dead, trying to lure down a hawk floating effortlessly on currents high in the deep blue sky above, Or, just lie there, eyes closed, wind rustling through the grass, wondering where it started and where it ended…listening, listening, trying to hear any sounds or voices carried along with it—I adore the Oklahoma winds—I love to just stand in it feeling its energy enveloping me all around.
“The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”—John 3:8 [NLT].
“Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.”—Acts 2:2 [NLT].
I camped along creeks and on the banks of stock ponds cooking on and sleeping around campfires at night. On summer nights, I watched movies at the drive-in theater or parked on county roads that intersected every mile, north/south, east/west. Sitting on the hood, back resting against the windshield, gazing into the black sky at stars and constellations, I’d wonder how long it would be before I spotted a satellite.
“For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his divine qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” Romans 1:20 [NLT].
Yep, things were simple, then. But for most of the time since, I’ve lived a complicated life. Now, I’m learning to return to what is meaningful, worthwhile, and simple.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.”
Really…I’m that simple a person. I’m a simple Christian. I’m Carl R. Evans