Simple Days

The Testimony of Simplicity was one of the things that attracted me to Quakers 30 years ago.

What is a testimony? Well, Quaker’s have used the term “testimonies” since the 17th century to mean a public profession of religious experience, and understanding of the truth. We don’t have a creed (a statement of shared beliefs) because we have a conviction that we each must live our lives according to our own spiritual experience.

For Friends, a testimony is a spiritual leading to action, where spirit and action come together. This month, as I sit in stillness and contemplate my Truth, I am led to review and work on my calling towards simplicity.

Agenda this week:

1. Journal queries
2. Set priorities
3. Simplify my home
4. Simplify my diet and collect healthy snacks
5. Make hummus and pita chips

1. Journal Queries:

Simplicity, according to our book of Faith and Practice, is "cutting away everything that is extraneous, so that our outward life fully reflects our inward life. A simple life need not be cloistered and may even be a busy life. Its activities and expressions are correlated and directed toward the purpose of keeping our communication with God open and unencumbered. Simplicity is a Spirit-led ordering of our lives to this end."

Do I center my life in the awareness of God so that all things take their rightful place?
Do I keep to simplicity, moderation, and honesty in my speech, my manner of living, and my daily work? 
What helps me avoid commitments beyond my strength and light?
How do I order my life to nourish my spiritual growth?

2. Set priorities:

Life is just not simple- nor do I think it should be. And simplicity is actually a complex issue. Simplicity doesn’t mean EASY and it doesn’t mean ELEGANT. Generally, it means-

• everything in moderation- having just enough interests, activities, and stuff in your life to live comfortably and enjoyably; 
• allowing time and space for the things that really matter-- listening to God, caring for each other, and enjoying simple pleasures;
• being a good caretaker of the earth and using only your share of the earth’s resources;
• avoiding self-indulgence;
• maintaining a spirit of humility;
• speaking clearly and directly without exaggeration;
• accepting with thanksgiving all that leads to fullness of life and aids in the service of Truth.

So even though I don't expect life to be simple, I live with as much simplicity as I can manage: I am centered in the Spirit; I discern my priorities; I find ways to create balance. I leave time each day for the REALLY important things, and make life-style choices that have integrity.

In order to give time and space for the things that really matter I have to constantly re-figure out what they are... what ARE my priorities and what ARE my goals in life? I turn over an hour or two most mornings to journal, pray, read, and plan. (Of course I don't have that much time for contemplation every day, but contemplation is a priority, so I schedule time for it.)

I work constantly to balance my desire to DO stuff with my need to SLOW DOWN. I take time to examine whether or not I’m feeling led by Spirit to take on an action. If not, I’m good at saying no.

3. Simplify my home: 
We have lived in this house for 32 years, and most of that time we have shared it with our children. They are both living in their own homes now, and (though we still have some boxes in our shed) our space is mostly our own now. Hallelujah!

Now I feel a big urge to purge and simplify every room in the house- to keep only the things I need and find beautiful, and give away the rest.

I've read many books over the years and my hands-down favorite is Marie Kondo's "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing". Her technique is to sort everything in one category at one time- pull all your clothing out and see what you have, then put back only what you really love and get rid of the rest.

I haven't managed that kind of significant upheaval yet, but it's my guiding light. 

This week I'm going to work on toiletries and medicines. I'll take everything out of the cupboard and cabinet and decide whether or not I need it and love it. If not- out it goes!

4. Simplify my diet and make healthy snacks:
I was at the doctor's office a couple of weeks ago, and found out that my blood pressure has shot up again, so I'm working to bring it down naturally. Weight loss is one of the most effective changes for controlling blood pressure, so I want to lose about 10 pounds, and especially from my middle, because carrying too much weight around your waist can be a contributing factor.

I got lax over the holidays (all that baking! all that salt!) and I need to get back to a simple, wholesome diet of lean meats, fresh vegetables, and whole grains, and cut out processed foods, canned vegetables and soups, crackers and other salty snacks, and SUGAR.

My biggest problem is snack foods- I love my cookies, crackers, and chips. Here's my list of favorite healthy snacks to have on hand to replace those:

• Apple slices with low-salt peanut butter
• Pistachios (good source of potassium)
• Bananas (another good source of potassium)
• Low-sugar yogurt
• Home-made hummus or guacamole with low-salt Trisquits
• Hard-boiled eggs (no salt)
• Sweet potato chips fried in olive oil, no salt

5. Make hummus and pita chips:

I LOVE hummus but my favorite store brand is pretty high in salt, so I bought myself a food-processor, and experimented with a recipe to see if I could match it-- it might even be better!

Ingredients:

• 6 garlic cloves
• 1/4 c. fresh lemon juice (1 large lemon)
• 1/4 c. well-stirred tahini
• 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
• 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
• black pepper to taste
• dash of cayenne (if you want some heat)
• 1 tsp. garlic-chili sauce1 (15-ounce) can low-salt chickpeas
• Dash ground paprika, for serving 

1- Peel the garlic cloves, start the food processor, and drop the cloves into the bowl. Let them swirl around until minced.

2- Add the tahini and lemon juice and process for 30 seconds. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl then process for another minute to let it get really creamy and emulsified.

3- Add the olive oil, and any seasonings you like. Process for 30 seconds, scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl then process another 30 seconds or until well blended. 

4- Open, drain, and rinse the chickpeas. Add half of the chickpeas to the food processor and process for 1 minute. Scrape sides and bottom of the bowl, then add remaining chickpeas and process until thick and quite smooth; 1 to 2 minutes. 

5- Now, to get really smooth hummus, with the food processor turned on, slowly add 2 to 3 more tsp. of olive oil or water until you reach the perfect consistency.

6- Taste for seasoning and adjust as needed. Serve hummus with a drizzle of olive oil and dash of paprika. Store homemade hummus in an airtight container and refrigerate up to one week.

For homemade pita chips:
Cut pitas into 8 wedges. Brush pita chips with olive oil and bake on a baking sheet for 10 to 15 minutes.

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