Read this and believe you have an excellent life! This little excerpt is from Jen Hatmaker's book "7" and it is bringing me lots of joy and healthy conviction.
"I realized my slightly reduced life is still extraordinary in every way. There is no end to my advantages. For whatever reason I was born into privilege; I've never known hunger, poverty, or despair. I have been blessed, blessed, blessed - relationally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. My life is so happy it's almost embarrassing."
I often wonder about the thought/mystery of being born into privilege. If I am in the bracket of the wealthiest 4% of the world, a world of 7 billion people, that is kind of rare. Being in the top 4% financially is a big responsibility for me. Welp, seems I have a lot to give away!
Where shall I begin!!!!!!!!!
That's my best friend Karla being the best human in the world. I am biased, whatever, she really is the best and I am her biggest fan. Even though she is 7 hours ahead of me and currently halfway around the globe, she is changing my world by giving so much of herself away. I often think of her as I read Hatmaker's book. Karla is a living example of having much but choosing to give it away and live with little.
If you know me, you know I love a good book. I was recently blessed with a Kindle. This is good for getting any book I could ever dream of in the click of a button (dangerous!) This is bad for my bank account, and missing the smell of an old book and no longer experiencing the exciting feeling of turning the pages.
I started reading Love Does by Bob Goff a couple months ago. I treated the book like a present! And every day I limited myself to opening two presents aka never reading more than two chapters a day. I was learning so much and laughing and crying that I didn't want it to end. Then last week, Geoff told me about a book called "7" by Jen Hatmaker. I tried to read only the introduction, but just a few pages in I was hooked. I was way into Love Does and way into 7. So, I finally committed the last couple of days to opening many Bob Goff presents and I finished Love Does this morning. Life. Changed. Hopefully I can one day share memories of the adventures Goff's writing has sparked in me.
Now for 7. The author, Jen Hatmaker, writes about her adventure trying to simplify her family's life. This book preview gives a pretty perfect description...
Just a few chapters in, I am incredibly moved by her words and I felt compelled to share with you guys.
"Would Jesus overindulge on garbage food while climbing out of a debt hole for buying things he couldn't afford to keep up with neighbors He couldn't impress? In so many ways I am the opposite of Jesus' lifestyle. This keeps me up at night. I can't have another authentic communion with Him while mired in the trappings He begged me to avoid."
As I sit here drinking coffee in my air conditioned house, typing on my laptop, with my kindle on next to me, my iphone charging in the wall and my TV playing the olympics, I cannot help but think of my sweet best friend Karla living in a village in Kenya loving on children and living disconnected from the advanced ways of the west. (Read Karla's blog HERE!) I find myself jealous of Karla for the simple lifestyle she gets to embrace. Amongst my group of friends, my family has the lowest income, living pay check to pay check with out a dime of savings. I spent middle and high school and even part of college convinced I had to keep up with the people around me and I found myself angry that I had to pay for my own car and insurance and gas, and I didn't think it was fair that I didn't get to go to the beach every summer. (I used to be a brat, OKAY? We've all been there) I feel so convicted. Not in a guilty way, but in an "I am inspired to be better" kind of way. How could I have felt bad for myself when my single parent family has more than 96% of the world? I am in the richest 4% of the world. HAH! I am rich! Who knew. Sandy Springs, Georgia didn't know... but it's official.
Now I need to find some ways to use my new found wealth to bless other people! Any ideas?
No one reads this thing.... okay... 9 of you do. (Thank you, BLESS YOU, muchas gracias!) I know this because I added Google Analytics to my blog so I can get super cool/creepy feedback about all my awesome visitors and where they were when they read my blog (seems I have a reader from Africa? KARLA!!) and it also tells me how long people spend on each page. I have some speed reader visitors... an average visit time of 12 seconds? Hmmmm... I am suspicious you are looking at pictures and not reading words. I am experiencing a Catch 22. I don't want to be that girl always advertising her blog but I want people to want to read my blog. I also don't have the guts to tell people "hey so I spend time writing in my online journal, you should check it out." I guess the bottom line is... if you are reading this, thank you.
Love 30/30 Thoughts.
Whoops! Okay I know I dropped the ball on this one. (who saw that coming?) But I found my posts turning into an obligation, all 3 of them, and I found myself starting to want to use "christianese." I don't want to use christianese.
Chris-tian-ese
Definition:
A communicable language within the Christian subculture with words and phrases created, redefined, and / or patened that applies only to the Christian sphere of influence.
Trendy Examples:
"let's do life together," "i got rocked," "the big man upstairs," "your heart should be so close to God that a man has to seek after him to find you"
Don't judge me. This is my blog (that 9 of you are reading) where I am entitled to freedom of speech, unlike the Cathy family and Chickfila. With that being said, sign up for your own Love 30/30 updates at the Passion City Church website and I will enjoy my love 30/30 moments in my secret place.
Tousled Thoughts.
I moved my brother into his new house in Milledgeville yesterday. He's living in the brown house, which is where my boyfriend and some of my best guy friends lived during college. The house was empty yesterday. That never happens. Even though it was 98 degrees and the sun was beaming and the house was dusty, it was a great time with Greg. My muscles are definitely stronger and my nose is sniffly from dust. Driving away from Greg was one of the more difficult things I have done in my life. I know I am leaving behind a boy that is going to be living with quality guys and enjoying some of the best years of his life learning about himself and the world. I can take comfort in that. But goodness, it was one of the hardest drives to make. About an hour into my drive home I was feeling lonely. I had already called Greg twice to ask him dumb questions when I really just wanted to talk to him. Geoff and my mom are both out of town, my best friend is in Africa, my other best friend is with her fiance's family. Who am I supposed to talk to!! And then..... duh! It hit me. I had the perfect opportunity to spend time praying for my brother, my mom, Geoff, Whitley, and Karla. All the people I love and miss the most I got to pray for which is far more powerful than gossiping on the phone. Whew! That was a long thought. Bottom line... Greg is my baby brother, my grown up baby brother. No girl is good enough for him (okay... maybe one... you know who you are). I love him more than anyone in the world, sorry everyone else. He lives at the Brown House, go visit him and make him food.
In 5 days Geoff is leaving to climb what I like to call "that big dumb mountain" aka Mt. Ranier in Washington. I like this picture of it because it makes it look close to civilization. But I guess being on top of a mountain isn't very close to civilization. So while he is gone I am probably going to cry and re-fall in love with him because I miss him so much. Worried moms say: "oh goodness, Geoff that's dangerous." Outdoorsy people say: "oh you'll be fine it's just a fourteener" I trust the outdoorsy people on this one. But so help me God if anything happens to him, I will hunt down the people that tried to tell me he would be fine :)
During a 20 minute drive today I got stuck behind 3 separate mail trucks. How often does that happen! But then I was thinking about their jobs and how hard it must be. Then it started monsooning outside and I gained even more respect for the postal service.
While I was driving I decided to be a rebel and keep the windows open while it was raining and blast my brothers dubstep music because I know he would like that if he was in the car with me. Then I drove through a huge puddle at the bottom of a hill. Couldn't see anything for a solid 3 seconds... what do you even do in that situation? I just drove straight. Rolled up the windows after that. Isn't it crazy that the traffic cam got this shot of me driving? Sorry lady!
Until next time I leave you with this picture of Greg's new room. Complete with Taylor Swift shrine and Bald Eagle fabric to cover up an old fireplace.
