Too Many Hats

“Nothing is more clear than that Jesus Christ walked in well-nigh amazing simplicity of life. He was centered in God and had a transparency toward God that ordered everything. Simplicity is part of what it means to be a follower of Christ. To be sure, the cost of simplicity is great, but the cost of duplicity is greater. Duplicity costs the joyful communion with the Divine Centre, faith that sees everything in the light of God’s governance for good, abiding peace, and the ability to walk cheerfully on the face of the earth in the power of the Lord. In short, it costs the abundant life that Jesus said he came to bring. Simplicity may be difficult, but the opposite is immensely more difficult.” - Richard Foster

At our recent retreat we read this piece from Richard Foster about simplicity. I was struck by his thought that the opposite of simplicity is not complexity but duplicity.

I’ve certainly found my life to be more Christ-centered and healthy when I have a unity of purpose. When all the aspects of my life (my time, energy, effort, thought, prayer) are focused I don’t leave nearly as much room for the duplicity of my old self/new self.

When I am wearing many hats, doing many different things, and continually switching roles it is easier for my old self to slip in. I find when I’m wearing many hats I easily conform my image to be what I think others want to see. Switching from hat to hat means changing masks and I (often deceitfully) try to look good to everyone all of the time.

Perhaps the point is that I shouldn’t be wearing different hats at all. I should just be me, all of the time, regardless of what role or roles I am in.

I long for the simplicity of “just” being me, all of the time, as transparently and honestly as I can be.