During the spring semester of my junior year of college I decided that life had become far too complicated. My schedule was slammed, the storage space in my apartment was over flowing, and I felt like I couldn’t keep up with myself. Something had to change. I needed to simplify.

About that same time I came across Acts 2:45 in my studies which reads, “selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.” I had a lot of stuff and I saw a lot of need in my community. I began to ask myself, “what if you sold or gave away all the junk you have and lived without abundance for a year?” To date, this was the most valuable question I have ever asked myself.

I hosted a yard sale to get rid of all my furniture. I gave up the lease on my apartment. I left all the stuff I couldn’t sell but knew I wouldn’t need at my parent’s house. I bought a tent and called it home.

During my time in the nylon sanctuary I learned a lot about simplicity. Not only does it bring peace to those who practice it, it has the potential to impact the lives of those nearby as well. I began to clear out my schedule and open up my life to more spontaneous encounters with people in need. You see, tent life requires more time than normal life. So many unexpected things kept happening while I lived in the tent that I had to set aside time each day to expect the unexpected. I had to be ready for my little plot of land to flood. I had to be ready for fire ants to attack me and everything I own. I had to be ready to defend my home against the alligator that lived nearby.

When those unexpected things didn’t come along, I found myself with ample time to experience people. I built some of the more amazing relationships during that year in the tent just because I took a few small steps to simplify my life. Less material possessions meant less stuff to keep track of. Less items in my schedule meant more free time. More free time and less to keep track of meant more meaningful relationships could be built. I found that nothing is more important than those relationships. Nothing.

Tent life required simplicity. Simplicity allowed me to take a deep breath. When was the last time you stopped and really breathed? It’s the most wonderful thing you will ever do.

Keeping it simple,

-Nathan Hoag-