The Dream of a Simple Life

When I was a kid, I remember thinking to myself that if I were to be the boss of my very own sundry shop, I would then be able to live a simple life, naively thinking that just by selling what I had in the shop it could earn me big bucks (it never occurred to me that I had to firstly buy the stuff before I could sell em'! Like I said, I was a kid then :P). So yea, that was my thought. Sell stuff, earn money, live a simple life.

If we're honest with ourselves, we all have that sort of thinking before. The thinking that if we are at the top, then life would be much simpler. Yes, we all want to have that 'simple life'. Study well, earn good grades, get a good job, earn reasonably good money, get a good partner in life, get married, have children, blah blah blah... Ah, what a life that is.

But does it work that way?

I'm currently reading Lynn Anderson's "Finding the Heart to Go on", a book depicting the life of David, that simple shepherd boy who rose to fame and power, becoming arguably the most prominent king in the old testament. If there's one person I could be in the Bible, David has got to be it.

Here is a man who epitomizes the term 'from zero to hero'. A simple shepherd boy who lived in the wilderness for most of his teenage life only to be brought into the limelight when he single-handedly brought down that enormous giant, Goliath with a mere swing of his slingshot. His escapade to kingship is known throughout the world; a handsome, courageous man who became the greatest king Israel has ever known. Oh, and may I add on to say that he is a man who also appreciates literature and music too! Hah! Every girl wants to be with him and every guy wants to BE him :P

Most would think that David must have lived a simple life after that extraordinary feat against Goliath. Rising up to the rank of a king, who wouldn't??

Well, David did not. Wait... let me rephrase that sentence.
KING David did not.

"So David rose to his days of human glory.
Power. Wealth. Freedom. Popularity.
All had become his - but life at the top was still no bowl of cherries for David.
The expansion of his wealth, popularity and power only brought more problems.
Pressure continued to mount."

His life as a king wasn't a bed of roses. It was filled with great trials, temptations and along the way, triumphs as well. Life did not get any easier for David after he became a king. In fact, it got a whole lot harder.

"How complicated life had become for this once simple shepherd boy.
Finances. Construction, Administration. Transportation. Military manoeuvres.
Political subtleties. Many wives. Many children. More subjects. More men.
More wars. More construction projects. More alliances to maintain.
What happened to "the simple life at the top"?

As I read through this particular chapter of this book, I dug deep into my current state. And boy, it sure look anything but simple. I am nowhere near any sort of career success. Peers have gone way ahead of me, becoming 'kings' in their own rights, while here I am, still stuck in the 'wilderness'.

I believe the simple life that we all want in this world is merely an illusion created by assumptions. We get whirled into thinking that by gaining certain status and success in this world will grant you that sort of life. Why? Because that's exactly what the world is telling us. The world is telling us to love the immense success that it has to offer us. "Success is the way, take it!".

But is it?

I'm not saying that success is not important. We all should strive to be successful. No doubt about that. What I'm saying is that success should not be the most important thing.

"So, what's really important then?", a teacher once asked a man.

The man looked at the teacher. In his calm and confident voice, he answered the man,

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and
with all your soul and with all your mind".