"Keep It Simple, Stupid."

I guess I was around 14 years old when I first heard this phrase.

Entrenched in my worship of the golden calf I built called "baseball" and frustrated with my recent performance, I was trying to think of everything I could be doing wrong and changing parts of my swing, when my dad said something along the lines of,

"Kiss. K-I-S-S: Keep it simple, stupid."

I responded, "I am!"

He then informed me, "No, you're not. You're too focused on your mechanics. You know how to hit a baseball; it's the same thing you've been taught since you were little. Don't overanalyze it. Just pause, take a breath, and refocus. Then when I throw it, just see the ball and hit the ball.

See the ball; hit the ball. Keep it simple, stupid."

This phrase, "keep it simple, stupid," was then ingrained in my mind.

My dad would repeat it from time to time when he saw me getting frustrated, but he didn't really need to—it was already planted in my mind and growing.

He would later stop saying "K-I-S-S" and just say, "see the ball, hit the ball." But the two phrases were completely synonymous to me.

I carried this reminder throughout my high school and college baseball career and by the latter half of college it wasn't as much a reminder as it was an implanted—and deeply rooted—mentality.

The results of this were staggering. Not only was I less frustrated and more at peace when I was struggling, knowing it wasn't a complex solution I needed, but a simple fix. It was also evident in my on-field performance. My hitting productivity skyrocketed and I went from merely helping the team offensively to being a true difference-maker for the program.

Now, PLEASE do not take this as boastful, because I genuinely do not even see myself as a "former baseball player" anymore, nor do I care about my on-field performances of old. I talk with friends from time to time who bring up those old baseball years and I find it laughable that I obsessed so much about that childhood game that I was certainly fortunate to play, but was just a game, nonetheless.

Instead, I tell this story because I believe God has given me the word "simple" to be my word of the year for 2023, and for reasons explained throughout the remainder of this article, I believe "keeping it simple" will impact my life and ministry far more than it did my baseball career.

The Simple Importance

As Christ-followers we are simply called to follow Christ.

Simple is simply that!

As Christ-followers we are simply called to follow Christ. Simple is simply that!

So, what was Christ like? Did he give us a complex example to follow or a simple one?

When we look at scripture, the answer is pretty obvious.

Jesus was born into simple circumstances.

How much more simple does it get than being born in a stable/cave, being wrapped in cloths, and then placed in an animal feeding trough? This is the Lord of all creation we're talking about here. Not born in a hospital, hotel, or home, but his beginning breaths being breathed in the most simple of places.

Jesus was raised in an historically simple town.

A town of roughly 300-400 people—essentially, just a few families—the only thing Nazareth was known for was that it wasn't known for much of anything.

The only personal comment recorded in the Bible referring to this small town is when Nathanael said, "Nazareth! Can any good thing come from Nazareth?"

He didn't ask this question because Nazareth was full of evil, but because it was a tiny town of livestock farmers and tradesmen who lived simple lifestyles. This is also seen to be true for Jesus' own family, since we know that Joseph was a carpenter and trained up Jesus in the trade as well.

Jesus lived a simple life.

We never once read in any part of scripture that Jesus was in a hurry or rushing anywhere. He took his time, was present, and fully content in all circumstances—even the many times his life was being threatened.

When asked for help or healing, you never see Jesus say, "I can't right now, I'm busy," or "let me call a team meeting with my disciples sometime next week so we can strategize our best action plan, then I'll get back with you."

Jesus was present, approachable, and undistracted when it came to those around Him. Even if He was on mission to help someone else, He never neglected the needs of those right in front of Him. (See Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:40-56)

Not only was the pace in which He lived a simple one, but the style in which He lived was simple as well. Jesus was constantly instructing His followers to live simply:

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing...For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you." (Luke 12:22b-23, 30-31 ESV)

“Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:20; Luke 9:58 ESV)

“Watchout! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” (Luke 12:15 ESV)

His focus was not on building self-reliance, status, or net worth, but on trusting the Father and being obedient to the Spirit.

Jesus exemplified a simple ministry.

I implore you, when you read the stories of Jesus' ministry work in scripture, focus on its simplicity.

You know what you'll never see?

You'll never see Him start up a non-profit, strategically plan an outreach event to gather as many people as possible, orchestrate team-bonding activities for His disciples, gather speakers and musical artists to lead out a conference, create a 12-step program to guide people in some area of life, or publish a book to impart His infinite wisdom to the world.

Now, you may be saying to yourself, "how hypocritical of this writer, since they wrote this in a blog post and I don't find anywhere in the gospels that Jesus had a blog!"

Don't misunderstand me; in no way, shape, or form am I implying that any of those things in and of themselves are bad or anti-Christian. I would most definitely be a hypocrite to say that.

God desires for us to use His gift of creativity to serve and reach His people and He gives us nearly endless liberties in order to do so.

However, if we're looking at Jesus' example (and His disciples, for that matter) we will always come back to:

- prayer.

- studying and meditating on the scriptures.

- having ordinary conversations with ordinary people that are grounded in truth and love.

- eating casual meals with people that pop up organically, not designed or strategically planned months in advance.

- spending time in the personal presence of people who come from a different background as us, compassionately hearing their stories, and lovingly encouraging and/or lovingly correcting them.

- full-reliance and utter dependence on the guidance of the Holy Father through the conviction of the Holy Spirit in everything that we do (i.e. forgiving, healing, prophesying, serving, giving, teaching, correcting, etc.).

If we're looking at Jesus' example we will always come back to simplicity.

Jesus is the example, so to Him I will look.

How to apply this simplicity in 2023?

This, I'm not so sure of. I'm not going to act like I have it all figured out and give you a detailed how-to guide. To be honest, I doubt there is a perfect formula for everybody to follow, and I thoroughly believe God doesn't give us all the answers up front so that we have to rely on Him in each and every moment.

However, I will share with you the three main areas in which I desire to be simple and how I will be praying for strength in each of them.

Jesus is the example, so to Him I will look.

I want to be simple in my relationships.

Asking friends to tag along from time to time on daily duties, and being more hospitable.

If I go to the grocery, the park, or a coffee shop it is very easy to send a text to someone and ask if they want to join. I often rely too much on Bible study nights, friends' parties, or waiting on other people to ask me to hang out as opposed to inviting them into my life. It doesn't have to be some sort of planned gathering or event to hang out with people, it can be much simpler than that.

This year I will continually ask God to give me a deep desire and zeal to do life with those closest to me.

Pausing when I'm talking with a cashier, waiter, janitor, co-worker, stranger on the street, or anyone else to really see them when I ask, "How are you doing today?"

All too often I ask people this question out of habit when I don't really want to know and I'm just trying to be friendly; that ends this year. Of all the places in the world and of all the eras when people have existed, this is the place and time in which He put me; the same is true for all those around me. Every person you and I cross paths with is due to the intentional design of the incomprehensible Divine.

I will pray daily that God reminds me to pause and intentionally care about those He has allowed me to cross paths with.

I want to be simple in my finances.

Spending only when necessary, not whenever I feel like it.

I do a decent job at this when it comes to most things, since I do consider myself to live a minimalist lifestyle. However, I really struggle when it comes to spending money going out to eat. This is most definitely due to laziness and a lack of self-control because I'm a guy who loves new experiences. Having a wife with a highly demanding job and a curious toddler makes cooking dinner quite a bit more difficult than it use to be. When you add in the fact that we're surrounded by a plethora of restaurants it engenders major temptation to opt out of the difficult, but responsible decision.

I pray that God will empower me to say no to my laziness and yes to stewarding money well for the glory of God this year.

I want to be simple in my ministry.

Making disciples through casual, but intentional and consistent relationships.

It is very easy to create a program or plan an event to gather people in the hopes of impacting their lives. It's much more exciting and looks a lot better on paper to have a variety of outreach events, large gatherings, and impressive programs/podcasts/etc. However, programs and events merely scratch the surface of life transformation compared to one-on-one discipleship, evening phone calls, inviting someone to your house for a meal, and serving others alongside of them. It's messier and definitely takes more patience to do the latter, but it is the command and example our Savior has given us.

I will make it a priority to do ministry in the simple way Jesus did, praying for guidance and assistance every step of the way.

See the Example; follow the Example. Keep it simple, son.

So, as my earthly father told me years ago, I feel my Heavenly Father telling me now:

"Kiss. K-I-S-S: Keep it simple, son." (I'm pretty sure God would prefer the term son. Lol)

"You're too focused on your methods. You know how to follow Jesus; it's the same thing you've been taught since you were little. Don't overanalyze it. Just pause, take a breath, and refocus. Then, when I give you an opportunity, just see the Example and follow the Example.

See the Example; follow the Example. Keep it simple, son."