Abundant Simplicity. Wait, What does that look like?

 

Starting this journey my fav a.m. beverage.

Abundant Simplicity is an odd combination of words, don't you think? At face value it seems more like an oxymoron.  You know, like Crazy Wisdom, Deafening Silence, Irregular Pattern or Sweet Sorrow.  An unexpected combination of two things that seem to contradict each other.   Abundant describes something that is present in great quantity; more than adequate, over-sufficient, abounding, overflowing.

Simplicity is the state or quality of being simple, free from complexity or singleness of nature. 
 Is it possible to have abundance and simplicity at the same time?  We'll see. Could abundant simplicity be a paradox?    par·a·dox   noun \ˈper-ə-ˌdäks

1. a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth
2. an opinion or statement contrary to commonly accepted opinion.

(thanks to Merriam-Webster dictionary for the definitions)  That seems like a reasonable assumption for us to consider. Sounds like we are going to have to take a serious look at some of the commonly accepted opinions and beliefs we hold about life, happiness, meaning and purpose.  At least for those of us who live in a western culture where mostly we equate abundance with choice, size, quantity, appearance, accomplishments... Could it be that the essence of abundance distorted or derailed for us somewhere along the way? 
 Let's find out. 

If you want to follow along with what I (and others) are reading -- get your hands on a copy of Abundant Simplicity by Jan Johnson.  And you can listen to a few women from Grace (my home church) who will be talking about each chapter as part of a 10 week women's study (first teaching will be posted on January 30, 2015). Come on let's do this... what do we have to lose?  More importantly, what could we gain?