Simplicity...um, what?

What is this word, simplicity?  Our culture has, for all intents and purposes, almost literally beaten the concept of living a simple life out of our brains. Join more clubs, participate in more activities, buy more stuff, you deserve it, do what feels good, don't think, just do it...does this sound familiar? Does it sting a little? It does to me, uncomfortably so. Several months ago, a friend and I were discussing this concept of simpler living, and he mentioned a movement folks are trying these days to limit their possessions to on hundred items. That's all. "I own one hundred things."  The idea sounded really inspiring on the outset, until I thought about it for more than 10 minutes and the panic set in. How would/could I categorize my possessions into the most important 100 that I would keep? I've got so much stuff! I need that! I want to keep this! How could I bear to get rid of ______? Boohoo me!

So I'm going to try an experiment:  for the season of Lent 2011, from March 13th to April 24th, I am going to attempt to simplify my life. Exactly how am I going to go about this countercultural and seemingly impossible task?  I am going to throw away/donate/declutter FIVE (5) ITEMS per day and blog about my experiences here.  What is the point, you ask? Well, I'm glad you did.  By removing things from my life, five at a time, my hope is that I will begin to see how much idolatry has crept into my life; realistically, how much hope I've put in temporary things. I want to refocus on God as my Provider and Giver of Good Things, not the "magic piggy bank" or "genie of the lamp." 

My hope is that all areas of my life will be put under scrutiny and swept clean of clutter: books, hobbies, entertainment, clothes, decorations, etc., and even a surplus of necessities (how many pens or cans of ravioli does a guy need?) won't escape THE EYE. That very well may be what I call this process, like the Eye of Sauron, seeing all things and even into my heart, judging how I feel about this thing or that.  This experiment very well may get sacrificial, but let's not get ahead of ourselves...