The Joys of Simplicity

By Zhou Po

Fewer possessions, a little more free time, and a simple life style are all that you need for a happy life.

"God made mankind upright, but men have gone in search of many schemes." (Ecc. 7:29)

In 1992 we found that our eight-year-old son was using dirty words. His behavior shocked us and prompted us to re-examine our own life style.

During the previous few years, my husband and I had been so busy with our jobs that we could spend only three hours a day with our son: breakfast, dinner, bathtime and a little reading at bedtime and no more. And the only words we had for him were,"Hurry up! you're late!" "Hurry up! It's too late now." "Go to bed! you're tired. And so am I." We didn't have time to communicate with him, so how could we expect him to speak in the way he ought to? I asked myself, "Are all I'm achieving at work enough to make up for my absence during his growing years?" The answer was in the negative.

My husband had worked as a university researcher for sixteen years. And at that time he was feeling quite discouraged about his career. He longed for a chance to enjoy a Sabbatical and ennable us all to enjoy a change of life style. I worked as an actuary for an insurance company. My job was both pressured and busy and I couldn't afford a three-month vacation. Facing the choice between career and family, I struggled but I finally decided to give up the former and go for the latter.

Nine years have passed by since then and we have been enjoying a high quality family life. My son is about to graduate from high school and my husband is still happily doing research in the university. As for myself, I have been busy taking care of over thirty kids at our church Sunday school and helping them grow.

Many of my friends ask me, "A lot of families in Hawaii need a double income to make ends meet. How are you managing to survive on just one income?" My answer is: a simple life-style.

I accepted the Lord when I was in graduate school. A lot of my Christian friends are actually largely responsible for my American life style. It was from them that I learned about shopping, cooking, doing chores, preparing parties and potlucks, planning, budgeting and getting things done.

Since my graduation, my life style has still simply aimed at meeting our basic needs and no more. Because the Lord has called me to a ministry with students, I choose to live in an apartment near the school. Our apartment is rather small but we don't have to worry about repairs, nor do we have to do frequent yard work either. That way we save a lot of energy and time. In this age, what is more precious than time? Our apartment has a rumpus room large enough for a group of fifty people. Isn't that wonderful! The apartment is also within walking distance of the university. So now we don't need to have two cars. Hawaii's weather is great and, anyway, walking is good for us physically and also for the environment.

Another way of saving is to look out for special coupons, and this is one of my necessary procedures before I go shopping. Otherwise we could waste time and money. We seldom dine out and that keeps us healthy too.

We had lived in the same apartment for twenty years,and had accumulated a lot of furniture. In 1995 we went to Japan in connection with my husband's work and the three of us lived there for two months. I was very surprised that daily life there could be so simple. When we returned to America, I started to examine every single item in our home. Those we hadn't used for a long time, we gave away to the needy. Suddenly our apartment became roomy. Since then I have often reminded myself not to bring unnecessary items home. Fewer possessions, a little more time, and a simple life-style are all you need to lead a happy life.

The author lives in Hawaii. She is now serving the Lord in a Chinese church in Honolulu.