Living Simply Amidst Chaos

Vivian Carlson

July 6, 2025

Simplicity. Webster’s dictionary defines simplicity as the state of being

uncomplicated, free from pretense and clear in expression. Chaos is the

opposite - a state of utter confusion, an unorganized mass or mixture.

So how do we dispense with pretense and find clarity in a world that seems

more cruelly chaotic daily? One strategy is to look to the wisdom of our

ancestors who managed to survive overwhelming natural disasters,

plagues, unimaginably evil tyrants, wars that killed entire generations and

more throughout recorded history.

The Bhagavad Gita, the ancient Hindu scriptures written 5,000 years ago,

contain these words: “Where there is no sense of unity, . . . society is

plunged into chaos. Social chaos is hell for the family and for those who

have destroyed the family as well. It disrupts the process of spiritual

evolution begun by our ancestors.. . these terrible deeds, violate the the

unity of life.”

The Tao Teh Ching, written by Lao Tzu in China 2,000 years ago reminds

us that “There is no calamity like not knowing what is enough. There is no

evil like covetousness. Only he who knows what is enough will always have

enough.”

And, more recently, our own Walt Whitman tells us that “This is what you

shall do: Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give

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alms to every one that asks, stand up for those who are different, devote

your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God,

have patience and indulgence toward the people, go freely with powerful

uneducated persons and with the young and with the mothers of families,

re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book,

dismiss whatever insults your own soul. . .”

Both Lao Tzu and Walt Whitman offer perspectives shared by most

indigenous peoples who have lived close to Mother Earth and supported

one another in order to survive for centuries. My indigenous friends in

South America shared with me much of their ancient wisdom which is still

practiced on a daily basis today. There are 9 indigenous tribes in Guyana.

They have fought wars against one another as well as carefully balanced

their relationships with one another and the rainforest for centuries. Each

tribe hunts different animals in the forest so that no one species is ever

depleted. Each tribe specializes in making different items so that trade with

one another is necessary. My Makushi friends have ancient knowledge and

skill at making the curare poison used to coat hunting arrows and making

baskets so carefully woven that they hold water. Other tribes make, trade

and share different necessities and all take only enough from the forest,

and do so only after asking the spirit of what is taken for permission and

expressing gratitude for the gift. The forest is life. My Makushi friends often

stated this simple truth in conversations about their way of life.

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Robin Wall Kimmerer, author, environmental biologist and member of the

Potawatomi Nation, has written a small book entitled The Serviceberry

describing this “culture of gratitude” in which life centers around

acknowledgement of and gratitude for the all of the gifts we find in our lives.

Being grateful for all that we have leads to the realization that we have

enough. Taking only what we need and giving a reciprocal gift for what we

have taken is a radical response to our surrounding consumer culture. In a

culture of gratitude and reciprocity, “all flourishing is mutual.” We can create

interdependent webs of self-reliance and reciprocity, sharing what we have

with others, passing on the gift by caring for one another, using, re-using

and sharing needed items, and caring for the earth.

Compassion is not an ideal, but a way of being in the world. It is an

outcome of gratitude and in times of social chaos may be expressed in all

human relationships as well as in many social and political actions.

Working to address injustice through involvement in groups and actions

designed to support those most affected by tyrannical cruelty and to fight

injustice in all its many forms brings a sense of agency, strength and

sharing in otherwise overwhelming situations.

Acts of kindness require courageous action in our everyday lives. There will

be more kindness in the world if we practice gentle breaths and balance

our efforts with quiet ease. Practicing kindness in daily life requires

reaching out to others, including those with whom we disagree or

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find offensive or frightening. Such judgments often interfere with our

intentions to see the good in each person. Being kind to all in a divided

and violent society is difficult. It is also a way of reducing the divisions and

violence that surround us.

Peace is also not just an ideal. It is an active practice. We can increase

peace in the world by practicing nonviolence in our thoughts and actions,

by pausing to think before we speak instead of reacting, and by centering

ourselves in the love of the divine spirit that lives within us. Meditation,

prayer, yoga, tai chi, immersion in the natural world all offer pathways to

peace.

So how can we benefit from the wisdom passed down by our ancestors?

We can seek to live simply, practicing compassion, kindness and peace as

a means of resisting the injustice and chaos in our country. Taking

collective action in support of social justice increases the effectiveness of

our resistance and our individual practices. Simple living requires

awareness, presence, thoughtful responses and integrity. It requires

understanding the concept of ‘enough’ and never taking more than we

need from others or from Mother Earth. It requires gratitude for our many

gifts and an understanding of the fact that we can build mutual relationships

based on sharing and reciprocity that will help to shield us from the ravages

of social chaos.

May it be so.

Reflections on solstice - Ellen Williams

When I was young I knew there were solstices since they were written on the calender.

I also knew that I was happy playing in the dirt and planting. I liked longer days in summer. Im

not sure I knew much more than that.

The funny thing is that longer days are up until summer solstice and then they start to get

shorter.

When I was in Alaska a few years ago, they mentioned how in Fairbanks, they have a baseball

game that lasts all night on the solstice. We were thee a few days before that. I remember

watching the sun set at 11:45 pm, but it didn’t really get dark after that.

Now I know that solstices measure when the light changes and the position of the earth’s axis

is closest to the sun for summer solstice.

Other names for this holiday are Litha and midsummer.

Some folks make flower crowns, collect herbs and look at the magnificence of nature. Some

folks leap bonfires, however, please don’t do this without guidance.

Solstice meditation

Take a deep breath and slowly let out

Take another deep breath and slowly let it out

Visualize the sun’s brilliant light surrounding you,

filling you with warmth and energy.

Visualize the abundance and joy that summer brings,

feeling these qualities within yourself.

As you exhale, imagine releasing any negativity, stress or old patterns.

Imagine a personal sphere of sunlight about you filling you with vibrance and energy.

Repeat I am statements, like I am alive, I am joyful, I am abundant, I am free of any other I ams

that are personal for you

Express gratefulness for the sun and the season for the

Gradually Bring your awareness, back to your body and your surroundings.

Give yourself time to be fully conscious in this room.

As I was at a concert with my mother in law last week, she asked what I was doing the next

day. I said I was working on a service for church. She asked what it was about, and I said it

was about Soltice and simplicity. She asked more about solstice, and I wasn’t ready to say I’m

a pagan to my 91 year old mother in law, who is Episcopalian. So I explained how I see spirit in

nature, in the plants, and trees and how flowers grow from seeds, and she said “that’s how it

should be” and I explained how soltice can celebrate the beauty in nature.

As in the reading messenger, where Mary Oliver suggests we focus on what matters, standing

still and being astonished and rejoicing at all we see in nature. She also suggests we be

grateful for all that we are exposed to.

In the song welcome, rejoice, and come in, I am called by the upbeat melody, the feeling of

connectedness I feel I share with other folks here. S o I am welcomed, I rejoice and am

glad to come in. Then today will be a joyful day reminds me of the carefree days of summer.

Some ways I feel joyful in summer include watching the butterflies at my milkweed plants and

hummingbirds at many of my plants. Or being in the yard and listening to children playing in

nearby yards. Or sitting around a campfire with good friends. Or curling up with a good book.

Please find some ways to celebrate solstice over the next few weeks.