The older I get (I’ll be 41 in November) the more that I seem to enjoy the simple things in life. Grilled cheese and tomato soup is a staple in our home, especially when the air becomes a bit cooler. I have spent most of my life going from one place to another, always in a hurry, and always very busy. When I was younger, I was what you would call a “church rat”, someone who was at church whenever the doors were open. These days, we have a hard enough time getting people to just attend the regular two-night-a-week-church schedule, but that’s another blog for another time. I still remember my Children’s Church days with Pastor Dave and Kathy, and singing in the Kid’s Corral Choir. I played soccer for BRYSA (Blue Ridge Youth Soccer Association) which is still in existence today. My Summers were spent playing in the yard across the street from my house where my friend Darren lived. It was our miniature version of the field portrayed in the movie, “The Sandlot.” Home base was the dirt in front of what I believe was an old oak tree that stood at least 70 feet tall. In order to hit a home run you had to clear the street and then the two trees in my front yard. To this day, Darren and I have a dispute as to who hit more home runs. Either way, we both beat Hank Aaron. My youth ministry days were spent learning from the likes of Billy, Ed, and Kelly. Billy taught me the importance of relationships. I gave him a really hard time but yet he loved me enough to believe in me and see the best. I owe him for that. Ed was only there for six months but he taught us guys how to make a fart sound out of the side of our mouths. I can still do it to this day so I guess he taught me something. Kelly taught me how to be tough in my faith and not to allow the devil any entry in my life. Sadly, I did not always heed his advice.

When I think back to my childhood I think about times when life was simple. A lot of that, of course, had to do with not having too many responsibilities other than pulling weeds, mowing the grass, and picking up the dog poop in the backyard. Today, the responsibilities of being a husband, father, and pastor can weigh heavily on me. What I find these days is that I’m not only busy in my daily life but my mind is also in constant motion. Sometimes I can be too busy in that way.

A friend of mine, Frank Iddings, said this to me many years ago; “The Bible is complicated enough that the most brilliant minds could spend a lifetime studying it and yet never find all of its meaning, but it’s simple enough for people like you and me to understand.” I have been guilty of over-complicating my Christian faith. There is a difference between complex and complicated. We tend to take the complexity of Scripture and over-complicate it.

Jesus is the greatest example that we should follow. He did many things well but what He never neglected was rest and time with His father. For Him, it was simple. It gave Him peace, rest, and understanding of His father’s will. May it be just as easy for you as making grilled cheese and tomato soup.