K.I.S.S.

For the past hour, I have been tweaking this blog page. You may have noticed that I added some links, listed a way to subscribe to this blog, and at the bottom placed a box denoting events that happened on this day in history. I had also added a polling question but I decided not to make the page too busy so I deleted it. There are many items offered that can be added to these blog pages. If one is not careful there could be so many add-ons that the intent of the page gets lost in the mix. An old adage came to mind, "keep it simple sweetheart." I know, the last word is supposed to be "stupid" but that seemed harsh, especially since it was me that sensed the need to simplify things.

Have you noticed that life seems to get more and more cluttered with add-ons? Life is not just work, school, and church any more. Civic organizations abound that one can join. Kids can play sports year round, especially if they excel. Besides sports, kids can enroll in scouting, martial arts, gymnastics, and no telling what other types of good activities. Schools offer a wide range of extra-curricular activities. And every group or club we and our kids can join all need to have fund raisers. We are urged to hit up all our friends and family to buy $5 candy bars and $40 tins of popcorn while we are expected to buy our fair share or more to make up for cheap Uncle Joe who won't buy anything from anyone.

We get so busy and spread ourselves so thinly that areas of our lives can suffer. Sadly, the first to feel the strain is often our spiritual lives. It becomes easy to miss personal time with God. That leads to guilt and feelings of failure. Even our church attendance can suffer. Or we pile everything on our backs and onward we trudge. Either way, the most important parts of our lives can get lost in the jumble.

What is most important? Solomon, near the end of his illustrious life, concluded that the whole sum of man was to fear God and keep His commandments. Jesus said we must first love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. Then He told us to love our neighbors as ourselves. That is just two things to remember.

Now, God knows we must work to pay the bills. God never said to not play baseball or join the Lions Club. What He does expect and, yes, demand of us is that we never leave our first love, which is our love for Him. Whatever add-ons we attach to our lives whether they be in the secular world or even in the church, we must always keep God first. That makes life much simpler to me. I have two preset priorities and the rest is optional.

So when you feel overwhelmed by the stress and strain of constant activity, you might want to step back, take a deep breath, and remember to KISS.

Because He lives,

Robby