This book explores how to live simply and love extravagantly. One statement that Tri makes that resounded with me was:
"When the window of the world is flung open to young people, many of them declare that their lives will be about changing the world. And for a handful, that declaration is a precursor to action. For others, it's merely a haunting reminder years later of how much time they have let slip away in pursuit of the mundane over meaning."
Personally I don't want to wake up 5 years from now with that haunting reminder, and I don't think many Christ Followers do either. I don't want to get caught up in a culture that says "Go to school, get a good paying job, get married, have children, save for retirement, retire from your job, move to a warmer climate, play golf, die". I want to experience a life that mimics Romans 12:2
"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is".
When we follow the idea of "What does God want me to do?" rather than "What do I want to do?" things get simpler. You don't have to rack your brain trying to figure out everything. You just pray "God show me your will", and then be obedient. Being obedient is the hardest part of this equation because Gods has always been ready and willing to share with us the plans he has for our life. We have to just have to choose to ask what those plans are and then follow them.
The second experience I want to share briefly is a teaching by Ed and Kent Dobson that I heard at Mars Hill Church about becoming like a child. They referenced Matthew 18 which says:
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3 And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.
If I choose to change the way I think and become like a child, life will be simpler. If you want to check out this teaching you can find it at www.marshill.org. It was taught on August 24th 2008.