Simplexity - The Relationship Between Simplicity and Complexity

I first heard the term "Simplexity" over drinks with my good friend Kevin.  We were discussing how easy it is take something that should be very simple and make it into something complex.  The conversation was centered on how often this takes place in application development.  What should be an easy item to configure, becomes a nightmare in both setup and practice.

That night I laughed about the term, but I also saw the brilliance in it.  It seems like our goal in life is to take something that should be easy and make it difficult.  

A central theme in the life of my family has been to simplify things, and I think it has been a key to our happiness as a unit.  The simplexity of keeping it simple cannot be overstated.  When you make decisions that affect several people, in our case 6, you tend to see Newton's Third law of motion rear its ugly head.  The force of your decision creates an equal and opposite force that opposes your decision.  Sometimes your decision results in lasting change, and sometimes it does not.  Sometimes that opposing force comes in the form of your immediate family members, and sometimes it comes from external relationships.

Here are a few examples of this equation:

• Stop wasting time and money on Sunday after church luncheons = friends are offended that you snub them after church, new relationships are not formed, and you are riddled with guilt.
• Eliminate cable TV = you lose your sense of cultural relevance, your children are upset, and you are unable to carry on a conversation with most people because you can't share in their laughter over "How I Met Your Mother".
• Keep Mom at home = Mom misses adult conversation, loss of income impacts luxury decisions, and sacrifices have to be made.
• Eliminate high fructose corn syrup from your diet = high fructose corn syrup is in everything, including all of your favorite breads, condiments, and beverages.
• Exercise and eat right = it is easier to criticize yourself for what you are not doing, how bad you look, and to miss the food that you love, than it is to change your lifestyle.
• Forgive someone = this requires a release of bitterness, change in thought, and behaviors which should result in lasting change.
• Maintaining a good relationship with your siblings = involves taking the time to call them, visit them in remote locations, and invest in their children.
• Marriage = planning a wedding, committing to a lifetime with one person, loving that person in sickness and in health, in poverty and in prosperity, in apathy and devotion, and until death do you part.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ, is another example of simplexity in my life.  Since Jesus chose me to follow Him, I have studied ways to present "The Good News".  I have distilled it down to "The Four Spiritual Laws." I have been trained in providing a color coded chart complete with scripture references. I have prepared and presented my testimony.  I have made the fashion faux pas of the "Christian t-shirt." Yet my life has been characterized as a sower of the seed and not a reaper of the harvest.  I accept this as my role, and I gladly continue to do my job.  However, I constantly second guess if I am unnecessarily complicating the call of Christ.  

Simplexity is found in every area of our life.  When I am honest with myself, I know that I find the most satisfaction and success when I stick with a simple plan to pull off something complicated.  I see this in my walk with Christ, in my relationship with my wife, in my work as a Project Manager, and as I parent my children.  Overcoming simplexity requires planning and execution.  Intentional living means just that.

For me that means thinking a little more than I like, reflecting on occasion, creating plans for mundane activities, and occasionally measuring my success.  What does it mean for you?  How have you conquered simplexity in your life?  Share your thoughts and examples below.