Freedom or Crazy? Giving it all away

I belong to a email group of conservative quakers.  Many of whom still have email but essentially live off the the grid, dress old fashion and try to be simple. 
Today there was a newspaper article that featured this family http://www.cagefreefamily.com/  who are giving all their belongings away to move to a farm and live the organic country life.  A goal that is worthy but one that I think but only possible for a certain few.  Making a living off of the land is almost impossible today without an outside income.  The man in this household has a job which he can telecommute with to keep the income coming in.  It would be hard to be very simple....I am addicted to my books.  I dream of living on a houseboat but I know I would have to have a "land house" to hold my books.

I think of the sheer number of items I have surrounding the chair in which I am currently sitting.  My cell phone, camera, telephone, lamp, stacks of books of course, not to mention the laptop itself. Heck, I could fill a box up with the medications I have.  What is essential to life?

When I really think of simplicity I think much of it is a state of mind. How wedded are we to our belongings?  Each year, I am reminded what is important to me simply because we live in Tornado Alley. We often have to flee to a safe place.  What we grab is telling. Ultimately, my family is first, and the documents and medications that they need. Then our pets....after that?  Even the stuff on my computer is replaceable now that I have an online backup service.

I think that simplicity is important, but I am not sure how to achieve it.  I look at the horrible things that are happening in this world and think of what really matters....Our faith to triumph over adversity. I look with horror at Myanmar.  Not only did a typhoon  wipe out part of this country, they were addictionally "raped" by their own government. I have a friend who had to flee from there due to the polictial situation.  There is a double tragedy there.  One which, Douglas John Hall would classify as unredemptive suffering.  Then there is China.  The horrible earthquake that exposed the shoddy workmanship in their own building industry. Particularly in the schools.  Again, as if the forces of nature are not bad enough, things are compounded by human "sin."

Simplicty, just what is it?  Is it about possessions? What happens when those possessions are gone?  Is it a state of mind? I read a travel article today about Laos and it showed pictures of the monks standing in line with their bowls for handouts from whoever came by. That is how they get their food each day, depending upon the generosity (and cleanliness) of strangers.  Is that virtuous or foolhardy? Hmmmm

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