Ancient Prayer
“O Lord, my heart is not lifted up,
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.
But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother.”
—Psalm 131:1–2
Reader Reflection
“God is using The Compass to bring life and hope to many who are struggling in their spiritual lives.” —Compass reader
From Trellis to Simplicity
The past two weeks we’ve explored discipleship and trellises—small, sturdy frameworks of rhythm that hold our lives up to the light of Christ. A trellis is not the vine itself, nor is it the fruit; it simply gives the vine something strong to grow on.
Now we turn from structure to substance: the fruit of a simpler life.
Because here’s the truth:
We didn’t always live this way. There was a time when silence wasn’t rare, when homes felt like sanctuaries, when evenings unfolded slowly instead of vanishing into glowing screens. But somewhere along the way, we normalized too much—too much hurry, too much noise, too much to manage. Even our faith now feels like one more thing we’re failing to keep up with.
Simplicity is not the only fruit of formation—but in this moment, it may be one of the most urgent. It is not about owning nothing or chasing an aesthetic. It is about creating space to see clearly, love freely, and walk more deeply with God. And when simplicity becomes a fruit we embrace, it keeps our practices from shrinking into just another list of spiritual chores. Instead, our rhythms become a way of clearing room for God’s presence to shape us from the inside out.
A trellis gives us the frame. Simplicity is one of the fruits it bears—the fruit that helps us breathe again.
What’s Coming This Week
Monday (Trailhead): Why Simplicity Is More Than a Lifestyle Choice
Wednesday (Formation Deep Dive): Selah: The Superpower of Simplicity — simplicity as resistance and renewal.
Thursday (Podcast/Story): The Camino of Letting Go — a pilgrimage story that reveals how less can truly mean more.
Friday (Wanderings): Curated reflections, a confession about hurry, and voices from our community.
An Invitation
If trellises helped you imagine new rhythms, this next series will help you breathe within them. My prayer is that these weeks open sacred space in your life—spiritual, emotional, even physical—to live less and live deeper.
Together, let’s step off the treadmill. Let’s rediscover that in Christ, less can be more than enough.
If you’ve been following along for free, you are welcome here! This space is for you! Let me also ask you to consider becoming a paid subscriber. This week paid readers will receive a printable “Trellis for Simplicity” tool and an audio pause for stillness.