Heart Work of a Simple Life

Discover how your everyday hobbies—whether baking, gardening, crafting, or more—can blossom into meaningful heart work that blesses others. Julie shares gentle encouragement and faith-filled insights to inspire you to share your simple joys in ways that bring connection, service, and purpose to your life and community.

Transcript

Episode 185 - From Hobby to Heart Work: Turning Simple Passions into Purpose

Hi, and welcome back to Living a Simple Life with a Back Porch View. For anyone new to the podcast, I’m Julie, and I’m so glad you’re here. Go ahead and pour yourself a cup of coffee, take a deep breath, and let’s settle in for a visit.

In our last episode, we talked about how your simple life isn’t meant to stay stuck in neutral. It can grow with you. It can stretch its limbs a bit—through writing, teaching, creating, and encouraging others.

This week, we’re looking at something just as meaningful: how your everyday joys—those little hobbies and simple interests—might just be the beginnings of your heart work.

So what is heart work?

Well, it’s that beautiful space where your passions meet what the world—or maybe just one person—needs most.

It’s when your hobby turns into something with purpose. Maybe not a business. Maybe not a book. But something bigger than just you.

Let’s talk about how that happens—and why it matters.

First, let’s look at a simple truth: there is absolutely nothing wrong with doing something “just because you love it.”

I firmly believe that God gives us passions, talents, and skills, for a reason. They’re often the little seeds He plants deep in our soul—the ones that bring us joy, peace, and rest when the world gets loud. But they are also given to us as our unique purpose to serve others.

Whether it’s baking a loaf of bread, stitching a quilt, growing heirloom tomatoes, making herbal remedies, or collecting stories from the past—those are all beautiful expressions of who you are. They bring a rhythm and richness to life that no store-bought convenience can match.

And sometimes, they stay right there—as hobbies. And that’s perfectly fine.

But every now and then, something shifts.

Maybe someone sees your handiwork and asks, “Can you show me how to do that?”
 Maybe your kitchen becomes the neighborhood’s favorite stop for pies or pickles.
 Or maybe, deep down, you feel a gentle pull—a thought that says, “What if this could be something more?”

That’s where the transition from hobby to heart work begins.

Here’s the thing: in a world that’s rushing toward bigger, faster, and flashier, your simple passions may be exactly what people are craving.

And you don’t have to be perfect at it. You just need to love it.

I think of the women I know who started baking bread because it brought them peace during hard times—and now they teach others how to do the same. Or the gardener who began planting vegetables to stretch her grocery budget—and now grows enough to sell some, share some with elderly neighbors or donate to her church pantry.

Sometimes the next level of your simple life isn’t about success. It’s about service. And it may be a nudge towards finding at least a small piece of your purpose.

Let’s say you love baking. The kitchen is your happy place, and there’s just something about the feel of dough between your fingers and the smell of cinnamon wafting through the air.

At first, maybe you bake just for your family. Then one day, a friend drops by, and you send her home with a warm loaf of banana bread. The next week, she shows up again—with a smile and an empty plate.

And before you know it, baking becomes a way to connect. A way to nourish. A way to offer love in the most delicious form.

That’s heart work.

It’s not always about selling your bread or opening a bakery—though if that’s your path, go for it! Sometimes it’s about starting a “loaf and love” ministry—sharing bread with widows, new moms, or anyone who could use a taste of comfort.

It’s simple. It’s powerful. And it’s rooted in what you already love.

Here’s another path: teaching.

Let’s say you knit, or crochet, or embroider. You’ve got yarn and thread in every nook of your home, and your hands just know what to do without even thinking. But there’s someone out there—a young girl, a neighbor, a retiree—who’s longing to learn.

You don’t need a classroom or credentials. All you need is a willing heart and maybe a spare set of needles.

Invite them over. Sit at the kitchen table. Share a cup of tea and a lifetime of skill. Teaching in this way passes on more than just technique—it passes on tradition, patience, and confidence.

That’s heart work.

When your hobby becomes heart work, it often invites others in. It becomes a source of community.

You might start a small group—once a month or once a season. A canning circle, a quilting bee, or a garden swap. You’re still doing what you love, but now it’s woven with laughter, encouragement, and connection.

Your passion becomes a gathering place. A place where people feel seen, valued, and inspired.

And in a world that’s often disconnected, that kind of community is a rare and beautiful thing.

Some hobbies even grow into ministries.

Let’s say you enjoy preserving food—canning, drying, fermenting. At first, it’s just about self-reliance. But then you realize there are families in your community struggling to put food on the table.

You begin canning extra. You tuck a few jars into care packages. Maybe you offer a free class to teach others how to start their own garden, and then how to preserve the harvest. You quietly become a source of knowledge, nourishment, and hope.

That’s the thing about heart work—it doesn’t have to be loud or flashy. Often, it’s the quiet acts that change lives.

Now let me say this loud and clear: turning your hobby into heart work doesn’t mean you need to hustle or build an empire. You don’t have to open an Etsy shop, write a how-to book, or turn your kitchen into a production line—unless you want to.

Heart work is about purpose, not pressure.

Sometimes it’s one-on-one. Sometimes it’s within your own family. Sometimes it’s just you and God, quietly using your hands to bless someone else.

So please don’t think your simple gift isn’t “enough.” It is. It always has been.

Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”

That’s the heart of what we’re talking about today.

Whatever you do—bake, grow, sew, write, build—do it with love. Do it with joy. And do it with faith that your simple work matters more than you know.

Because when your hands are working and your heart is open, God will take what you offer and multiply it. Maybe not in the way the world counts success—but in the way that counts in eternity.

If you’re feeling a nudge to take your hobby to the next level, but you’re not sure how, here are a few gentle ideas:

• Start small. Share your bread, jam, or handmade cards with a neighbor or friend.
• Teach someone. Invite a grandchild, a young mom, or even a local group to learn what you know.
• Write about it. Start a journal, blog, or small booklet with tips and stories from your experience.
• Host a gathering. Plan a canning day, a fall soup exchange, or a Christmas craft morning.
• Donate your work. Make blankets for shelters, meals for new parents, or care packages for the elderly.
• Offer encouragement. Even a simple phone call or handwritten letter sharing what you love can spark someone else's interest or courage.

Your hobby is more than a pastime. It’s a thread in the beautiful fabric of your simple life—and it may just be the beginning of something more.

You don’t need to be perfect. You don’t need to be ready. You just need to be willing.

Willing to share.
 Willing to grow.
 Willing to offer what you love as a gift to someone else.

That’s the essence of heart work. It’s not about going bigger—it’s about going deeper. Rooting your simple life in purpose, in faith, and in love.

So as we continue into this month of reflection and gentle growth, I encourage you to take a fresh look at what you love. Ask yourself:

• What hobby brings me the most peace?
• How could I use it to bless someone else?
• Am I willing to take just one small step forward?

It doesn’t have to be grand. But it can be deeply good.