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Showing posts with label Simple Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Simple Life. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Apple...and the Tree of Life...


“Life is this simple: we are living in a world that is absolutely transparent and the divine is shining through it all the time.  This is not just a nice story or a fable, it is true. ”
― Thomas Merton, O.C.S.O


Earlier this week, I was reminded of a sharing some years back by the CEO of Apple.  Well, cancer somehow finds a way to humble even the giants among us.

However, in his interactions with his people, fellow human beings, the late Steve Jobs was not the world's greatest manager.  In fact, this very God-gifted person, what the world perceived as, a “visionary” who revolutionized multiple industries with his cutting-edge products could have been, if not, one of the world's worst managers; his management style shrouded with darkness...instead of radiating light.

Where he could have reached out and touched many lives, he chose to destroy... constantly demanded excellence from people around him and was known for his blunt delivery of criticism.  God seems to have disappeared from his life.  Rather, his core obsession was with the change in people's lifestyle through his iPhones, iPads, Apple computers, iPods...everything else with the selfish “i”.

This very simple orphan, who once delivered the inspiring message at the Stanford University, seems to have forgotten how all the simple dots of his life...connected back to God...the ultimate tree of life...the ultimate architect...the ultimate provider.

At the end of the day, God will simply hold us all accountable...  Let us then, as simple pilgrims, always remember this throughout our journey through life...we are merely humble instruments of God...sending out tiny ripples to make this world a little better for all...so that others too, whoever they may be, will come to know the loving God...through us.

“...keep me, as the apple of thy eye.  Protect me under the shadow of thy wings.” (Psalm 16:8, Douay-Rheims)

Friday, December 3, 2010

Simplicity

"Simplicity of life requires that we be honest about who and what we are. We live a simple life when we do not pretend to be something we are not.

Simplicity is honesty, but it is also detachment. Honesty enables me to discover the hard truth that simplicity of life is not frugality of life. It is life unencumbered, life free of the things we own so that they do not own us.

Simplicity is openness to the beauty of the present, whatever its shape, whatever its lack. It enables us to be conscious of where we are and to stop mourning where we are not.

Simplicity and serenity, simplicity and honesty, simplicity and openness, simplicity and acceptance are synonyms too long kept secret."


What is a simple life in a world and a society where having enough is never quite enough? What is the value of simplicity?

This is what becoming fully human is all about...


Joan Chittister, Benedictine sister, author - 2005