Is the simple life really that simple? I don't know what made me think of this today. Perhaps it was when I was driving through the intersection that passes by the farmland before getting to our 300-home subdivision. Many times the owners of the farm will hitch horses to their farm equipment and do farming the "old school" way. I always think this really neat. As you approach the intersection, on one side is a brand new, brightly lit, state-of-the-art gas station and directly across the street is a white farmhouse surrounded by pastures. This is where the simple life and the complex life collide. When I see this sight it always makes me say, "Ahh, the simple life..." as I ponder the serenity of such a life.
And then I suddenly wake up as I pull into my three-car garage. I find myself having more appreciation for my SUV with heated seats, my garage door opener that responds at the touch of a button on my sun visor, and my comfortably warm home with gas heat. All of these are modern conveniences that don't require manual labor from me.
Just picture for a moment what the simple life on a Sunday morning would be like for my family. First, wake the family up for a nice hot breakfast. But wait! Someone had to slaughter that pig to make the bacon and collect the eggs that are now scrambled and ready to eat. Time to get dressed for church! Oh, but wait! Who has to make all those outfits? I guess that would be me. Now it's time to load up and head to church. But wait a minute! Someone needs to hitch the horses to the wagon so we can make the 10-mile trip across town. Whew! I'm exhausted and we haven't even left the house yet. Who gets to make Sunday lunch? Again, I guess that would be me. But did I can enough green beans from our summer harvest to feed us through winter and spring?
Forget the simple life! I'll take my very "complex" life.
Question to ponder: What advice would Al Gore give the Amish for reducing their carbon footprint?