I’m a minimalist. I don’t care for excess “fluff” in my house. Give me the basics. I need clean lines and easy-to-maintain surroundings (remember I need to clean things so it needs to be easy). Looking around my home and through my very-much-in-need-of-an-update wardrobe, the theme “less is more” definitely stands out. What I didn’t know until recently was that minimalistic living is a “thing” these days and I am, as a minimalist, fashionable.
This news took me by surprise. It’s never occurred to me that my style would be fashionable. For a brief moment, very brief, I wondered what levels of fame my unintended minimalism could catapult me to. I quickly realized that I was too minimalist to bother with the hustle and bustle needed to expound on the benefits of living simply. Thus my dream of minimalist fame ended.
How much do I need? Not very much at all because I’m a minimalist.
Needing less
Our work as missionaries in Africa has moved me to several countries, and even continents, over the years. And this has forced me to live only with what I need. In our early years of mission work, I would pack as many supplies as I could to make sure we didn’t run out of things like socks, dental floss, deodorant, and Ziploc® bags. As the years have passed, I’ve needed less with each move that we have made.
I know that all we need to settle into a new country is two or three changes of clothes each, two pairs of shoes, toothbrushes, deodorant, four plates, four cups, and cutlery for four. Finances of course have played a major role in our need to live as simply. But we’ve never lacked anything that we have needed.
Explaining the blessing away
This is why when, around 25 years ago, my husband purchased a beautiful gold necklace and matching bracelet for me, I struggled to wear it in public. We were in the States for the holidays. While we were out shopping, trying to buy Christmas presents for our family, he noticed me admiring a necklace and bracelet. The thought of him noticing still brings a smile to my face. Christmas morning I was stunned when first of all, he gave me a gift because we usually don’t exchange gifts. Then, when I opened the beautiful box I saw the very necklace and bracelet I had admired, my heart just melted. He still has many unused extra points for that Christmas gift.
However, I struggled with “what would people think” if I wore the necklace and bracelet. Any time someone complimented how beautiful they were when I wore them, I found a way to explain the blessing away. So the necklace and bracelet were tucked away. They were only to be used for special occasions like weddings and graduation services.
Sitting in the box
In our travels, the jewelry, still in the original box, remained in the States while we were in Africa. I thought that at some point I would bring it with me as my home is in Africa. But I still found it difficult to come to terms with the idea of wearing such a beautiful piece of jewelry that I didn’t need.
My heart dropped
About five years ago, my son Stephen messaged me and his first words were, “Don’t worry Mom, I’m alright.” Those words alone made my heart drop. Steve explained that there had been a theft and among the items lost were the necklace and bracelet. I was stunned and hot tears formed at the backs of my eyes.
First of all, I was thankful that Steve was all right. I made sure he wouldn’t feel guilty for the loss of the items. The last thing I wanted was for him to feel guilty. The only person who ought to feel guilty was the one who did the stealing.
Caught on camera
The police were called and the thief was caught (he was caught on security camera). He had also stolen from others and will likely spend some time in prison. Through a series of events and help from the local detectives, my bracelet and necklace were found at a local pawn shop. Steve messaged and sent a picture of the items which I immediately identified as mine.
The owner of the pawn shop told Steve that he should pay $500.00 for the items if he wanted them back.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we had a trip Stateside already scheduled for a few weeks after this happened. When we arrived, we went to the pawn shop a day or two later. By then, the items had been put on hold as an investigation was underway. The owner refused to return the items to us and we lodged our complaint in small claims court.
Yes, I know Christians aren’t to bring other Christians to court (see 1 Cor. 6:1-6). In this case, we were not bringing a believer. Nor were we looking for any damages. We simply wanted the items returned to us.
Nervous moments
I was very nervous. We were in the US for about six weeks. Thankfully the court date assigned to us was just a week or so before we were set to travel. The day came and I stood before the judge and the pawn shop owner. Jamie wanted to be the one to make our case. But because the items were mine, I had to do the talking.
I would have preferred him to do the talking.
The judge received us and allowed the owner of the pawn shop to speak first. With a lot of bluster, he explained how the items were his and that it was his right to sell them.
I stood at the podium assigned to me trembling. Why was I so anxious? I wasn’t the one who had stolen yet I felt strangely unworthy of complaining over bits of metal (after all I will walk on streets of gold one day, see Rev. 21:21).
When the owner was finally finished with his preposterous story, I simply explained I wanted my items back. They were with my son where he was living for safekeeping as I am a missionary and live in Africa. My whole account took less than five minutes.
Go collect your items
I had barely finished speaking when the judge harshly reprimanded the shop owner. She went to great lengths to explain how he was breaking the law and could be fined for his conduct. She carried on rebuking him saying, “She’s over in Africa probably feeding children and you had the gall to keep her property!” Turning in my direction, she said, “I’m writing an order to have the items returned to you. It will be mailed within the next two weeks. Do you have any questions?”
Still feeling sheepish, and stunned by her remarks because we do feed children, I said that would be fine. Except that we were leaving for Africa in five days’ time. Would it be possible to get them sooner? Without hesitation, she replied, “Of course, we’ll write the order right now and you can go from here and retrieve your property.”
I’m a minimalist and I was ashamed
Living as a minimalist has its definite pros that have helped me move from place to place with less stress, but I had allowed my thinking of living with less to translate into feeling ashamed. I was ashamed and felt as if I didn’t deserve to have beautiful things. Also, I wondered if people wouldn’t understand why I, a missionary, could have something as beautiful as those pieces of jewelry.
When they were stolen, I mourned their loss and thought, “Why did I have them anyway?” And just like that, I let them go internally, believing they would never be recovered. As I was talking myself out of them being recovered, a small voice scolded me saying, “Why didn’t you enjoy them while you had them? Why can’t God bring them back to you?”
It’s time to wear the necklace
You see God isn’t a thief (see John 10:10). He didn’t give me those two pieces of jewelry for them to sit in a drawer and then be stolen. He gave them to me to enjoy them, for them to serve as a reminder of how much my husband cares for and values me. How had I come to devalue myself as I had?
I will keep living with just what I need. As I’ve told you, I don’t need very much because I’m a minimalist by nature. Also, I don’t want to be bothered with so much stuff that I spend more time caring for what I have than for the people in my life. God is interested in people, they are what He values (see John 3:16). But sometimes He will bless us with something we don’t need just to remind us that He’s Dad and loves to surprise us like that.
So, when I flew back to Africa, the jewelry went with me. I think it’s time to wear the necklace.
