One Handful is Just Enough

A friend called me a few days ago asking for advice. Like many, they wear many hats aka many responsibilities in their busy life. They needed respite. They were exhausted. They needed peace. I love how God prepares me ahead of time for calls like this.

It was that very same morning that I had read one of my blogs, “Less is More Living”. And, that blog was written when I wore many hats at my church, was the keynote speaker at several events, and served on several committees. AND, I had just sold my home, was hiring tradespeople to perform various repairs to fulfill the contract AND was making a BIG move from Tulsa, OK to Frisco, TX. Suddenly, I was in purging mode. I had to not only relinquish many responsibilities, but I was purging the way-too-many-possessions that needed to go. I wrote that “Less is More Living” can also be applied to all the responsibilities we take on even when we can say “no” to more, but we don’t. We say “yes” without considering how many hours that “yes” will take us from family, friends and, most importantly, from spending time with God. And it would take us from peace.

King Solomon was the wealthiest man ever and was overloaded with the responsibilities. He wrote these words from experience: “Better one handful with tranquility, than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 4:6.) Here’s a good example of what that scripture might look like for us. Imagine a big bowl of jelly beans. Now grab a handful of the jelly beans and then grab another handful of jelly beans. Now shake hands with someone or pat them on the back or give them a helping hand. We can’t because our hands are full. With two hands full, it’s easy to become stressed and worried. The picture is someone that has taken on way too many responsibilities — so many, that they don’t have time for their family or give worthwhile attention to important details or do their best at what they do. Less really is more when it comes to not striving for that extra “stuff” that encumbers our time, our emotions, and our freedom to give more.

Back to that scripture: “Better one handful with tranquility.” The word, tranquility, isn’t used very often anymore. It means to be in a state of calmness, peacefulness, quietness, restfulness and/or serenity. True tranquility doesn’t come from Zen that has its roots in Buddhism or from Yoga that has its roots from ancient India and is a spiritual discipline of an extremely subtle science, which focuses on bringing harmony between mind and body. I am not talking about that kind of tranquility. True tranquility has its roots firmly planted in Scripture which is only found in God. That tranquility comes from within. We can’t change the world around us, but we can change and control the world within us.

I know the struggle is real for so many young families and all the busy-ness that goes along with it. Today, this blog is for my friend who knows they need to “downsize” their life, release those “jelly beans” at least from one hand, and reprioritize their life on the matters that matter most. And, it is for you, my faithful readers who are all seeking the tranquility found in God. It’s time to re-evaluate your time, your commitments, your desires, your “stuff”. One handful will be plenty.

Let’s find ways to toss those jelly beans from at least one hand so we can have the freedom to lift a brother or sister up, to put our arm around someone and encourage them, to reach out our empty hand with some cash for that one who is hungry, to hold someone’s hand that is hurting, to touch a fevered brow and pray for God’s healing. THAT is what tranquility affords.