In August of 2010, Andrew Hyde sold everything he owned. He currently owns about 15 things as an expression of minimalism. His life demonstrates a phenomenal commitment to shun materialism and to enjoy life for the experience and not for the purpose of acquiring goods. I imagine Andrew is quite a good steward of his possessions as he has few of them to maintain. When you rely on less to get by, you tend to take better care of it. It also helps when key pieces of that gear come from Arc’Teryx. Andrew exemplifies stewardship and free living. Especially since I’ve started hand-washing my laundry in tub, I’m inspired now to clean out my closet. The Goodwill Distribution Center is going to love me!
Living Free,
-SB
Glad you put up the site! Thinking about some of your minimalist musings lately. Read this for class today, and thought you might find it applicable:
All through the New Testament the coming of the Lord was the great hope of His people, and was always appealed to as the strongest motive for consecration and service, and as the greatest comfort in trial and affliction. I learned, too, that the period of His return for His people was not revealed, and that it was their privilege, from day to day and from hour to hour, to live as men who wait for their Lord; that thus living it was immaterial, so to speak, whether He should or should not come at any particular hour, the important thing being to be ready for Him as to be able, whenever He might appear, to give an account of one’s stewardship with joy and not with grief.
The effect of this blessed hope was a thoroughly practical one. It led me to look carefully through my little library to see if there were any books there that were not needed or likely to be of further service, and to examine my small wardrobe, to be quite sure that it contained nothing that I should be sorry to give an account of should the Master come at once. The result was that the library was considerably diminished, to the benefit of some poor neighbors, and to a far greater benefit of my own soul, and that I found I had articles of clothing also which might be put to better advantage in other directions.
It has been very helpful to me from time to time through life, as occasion has served, to act again in a similar way; and I have never gone through my house, from basement to attic, with this object in view, without receiving a great accession of spiritual joy and blessing. I believe we are all in danger of accumulating — it may be from thoughtlessness, or from pressure of occupation things which would be useful to others, while not needed by ourselves, and the retention of which entails loss of blessing. If the whole resources of the church of God were well utilized, how much more might be accomplished! How many poor might be fed and naked clothed, and to how many of those as yet unreached the gospel might be carried! Let me advise this line of things as a constant habit of mind, and a profitable course to be practically adopted whenever circumstances permit.
J. Hudson Taylor, A Retrospect, 1894
Mike, Thanks for the great comment! My grandparents were followers of Hudson Taylor’s teachings and philosophy, so I picked up a good bit from my own father. But life has a way of burdening us down with things. And we accumulate much that becomes unused and a burden of clutter. I’m taking a good-sized load of clothing to donate this week. I anticipate my laundry being less burdensome and my closet more organized.
-SB
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