A couple of months ago, the boyfriend (AKA husband) and I got to take a little trip to our former hometown. We hit our favorite restaurants (ahhh…the aroma of fresh flour tortillas at Alamo Café – IYKYK!) and drove by the houses where we’d lived back in the day.

As great as the Tex-Mex is in San Antonio, we came back for the people.

We lived in SA for 15 years. Most of our boys’ childhood years were spent there with both of them graduating from high school and launching into college during that time. We plugged into a nearby church soon after moving to the big city. The boys loved the kids’ and youth ministries there, and Scott and I quickly made friends with other couples. The seeds of strong friendships were planted that eventually matured into deep, authentic community – which we dearly missed when we moved away.

Many of those relationships began within the context of ministry. I found a friend in Jennie when she and I facilitated a Bible study for a group of girls as they transitioned from elementary to middle school. Mind you – we had six sons between the two of us, and here we were – leading a crew of giggly, pre-teen girls. But we were in our brave era and enjoyed some crazy times with those girls. (What a blessing to Jennie and me to still be in touch with several of them and to see them following Jesus, starting their own families, and faithfully serving in ministry.)

As you might imagine, working with middle school girls and raising our own pack of adolescent sons forged quite a bond between Jennie and me. We kept in touch, managing to grab a meal together any time Scott and I made a visit to San Antonio. And this recent trip was no different.

We decided to be sweet and let our husbands join us for lunch. Jennie offered to host us, and Scott and I enjoyed a late morning drive through the Hill Country to Jennie’s and Tom’s lovely, cozy home.

Gosh, there’s nothing like a hug from a friend you haven’t seen for far too long! We embraced at the door, and the excited chatter of catching up began. Scott and Tom talked about – well, I couldn’t tell you what they talked about. I was too busy talking with Jennie and exchanging information about kids and grandkids and everything we’d been missing. It was rich and wonderful!

Jennie tried multiple times to get us to the table for lunch, but just as we would start to turn in that direction, someone would ask a question or make a comment. And there ya go - the conversation would ramp up again. Finally, with loaded plates, we sat down.

Jennie and Tom had recently retired so we were anxious to hear about all that they’d been up to with open schedules and new freedom in hand. They filled us in on some fantastic road trips (working on their bucket list of visiting all of the national parks) and travels to visit out of state family. They talked about the joy they found in serving their church family and engaging in other ministries. The conversation then shifted to plans for the future.

Fellas, I don’t know what you’re looking at in your retirement years, but I think that sitting around that table on a hot June afternoon, Tom laid out a pretty simple plan. “I have two goals with the time I have left: to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and to love this woman right here (sweet Jennie) as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.” I just about dropped my fork. I was impressed by Tom’s ability to crystallize so perfectly what every married Christian man should focus on – retired or not!

We sat at the table long after our plates were clean and our tummies were full. We shared life, laughs, hopes, and prayer requests. Then we exchanged hugs, goodbyes, and promises to keep in touch before the boyfriend and I drove away.

I’ve thought about Tom’s two simple goals so many times since that day. I’ve wondered why I can’t just cut to the chase and simplify. I’ve gotten pretty wound up trying to get too much accomplished. I’ve frustrated myself with a full schedule and a to-do list that gives me a headache and finds me staring into the darkness when I should be asleep.

And you know what? If life seems too complicated, that’s not on Jesus. That’s on me.

When the religious leaders showed up to test Jesus, they asked Him what the greatest commandment was. “Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37-39)

Jesus strips away the craziness and the complexities and just gives me the bare bones. I may add flesh to those bones, but those bones are all I need. So with the help of the Holy Spirit, I’ve taken a stab at decluttering my priorities. My new, slimmed down list of goals: 1. Love God. 2. Love people. Thank You, Jesus, for keepin’ it simple.