Called Out

I finished Jen Hatmaker's book, 7.  This book has deeply stirred something inside of me that has been sitting there, mostly unaddressed, for years.  Courses in my undergraduate career led me to questions about excess, materialism, indulgence, service, environmentalism, and how all of these things connect.  I feel educated on these topics, though education and knowledge are not always enough.  Now that I have finished this book, I feel...called out.  And I like it.

Let me explain.

Readers, I'm not sure where you are right now.  I don't know what makes you tick, or what drives you. I don't know if you have a spiritual relationship with Christ, or if you're looking for one.  Maybe you're drawn to God, but you don't like his followers, and I understand that.  As the Stark household would state it, "People suck."  I am so guilty of sucking EVERY SINGLE DAY.  What do I do?  How am I serving others?  How am I serving the community or making myself available to help?  This is something that I do not have a ton of experience with, though I am ready to do more.

I always thought that my faith alone was enough.  I am growing past this idea, which is exciting to me.  I want to serve.  I don't want to be someone who is too busy to provide a helping hand.  Pause.  I have always been that person that is too busy.  I have always been the person who makes plans with everyone, or won't commit to plans, and has to flake last minute (I am so sorry, Kel).  Boone has caused me to slow down.  This book fell into my hands at a perfect time.  I live alone.  I do not have a job.  I go to class and then my days are free.  This schedule has had me twitching since I got here because I have never had so much spare time.  Maybe Netflix isn't the best way to invest my 7 hours of free time.  Maybe?  Slowing my life down is making me see things more clearly and I like it.  I'm rambling now so I just want to share this one thing.  If you have not, will not, or do not care about ever reading this book, I am going to sum it up right here:

• Love God most, but love your neighbor as yourself.  This is everything.
• If we say we love God, then why don't we care for the poor?
• This earth is God's and everything in it.  Why don't we live like we believe this?
• What we treasure reveals what we love.
• Money and stuff have the power to ruin us.
• Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.  This is what is required.

That is straight from the conclusion of Jen's book.  Solid.  It has hit me hard.  No matter what you believe, these are great things to think about.  Less is more.  What can we do for others when we simplify our lives and just get rid of all of the extra junk we have laying around?  We have SO much.  Think about it.  

This is my last post about 7, but these ideas plus biblical foundation are changing my life.  A friend gave me a new book yesterday and I am excited to continue broadening the endless (though dusty) chambers of my mind.  I figure it's better than watching another episode of Greek on Netflix.

Thanks for reading.  No matter where you are or what you're going through, just pause.  These things are temporary.  There is so much more to life than the weight you are feeling right now.  All things pass and life goes through seasons, it's what you chose to do with those seasons.  Help is all around you.  

Slow down and breathe.