Luxurious Simplicity

Today I had a thought come into my mind that I will call, for lack of a better phrase, “luxurious simplicity.” Luxurious simplicity is not stark. It is not a poor simplicity. It embraces beauty as well as moderation. The idea behind luxurious simplicity finds the balance between comfort and freedom from material possessions. It allows for beautiful furniture and a nice home, but seeks to work on a smaller scale. Instead of buying a large house, a person wishing to live in this way may buy, or build a smaller home which would require fewer furnishings. Instead of buying a living room full of furniture, a person may decide go buy a few carefully chosen pieces. A person living this way may have a few nice shirts instead of a closet full of them. Having fewer things means that one can spend a little more on what is important. It also means having to spend less time taking care of them, which could mean more time in prayer. I am reminded of a story I once read of a monk who loved beauty. In his cell, he had one picture that spoke to him. He would spend time each day enjoying his painting. In the midst of his austerity, he had his beauty. It is not the amount of beauty that we surround ourselves with that is important, but an appropriate beauty in its appropriate place.