7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess was written a few years ago and the 7 Days of Christmas is the newest book from Jen, derived from the first. There's crossover and recollections and its pretty perfect. Jen's thesis is that we can survive on 7 items of clothing, food, sources of media, etc. and in the process (7 months - 1 for each topic) those around her teach her valuable lessons along the way. My heart ached with her when her children were being wasteful with their food when they discovered they were out of ketchup - I can relate to children refusing to eat something!! - and picturing the children she was adopting from Ethiopia going to bed with empty tummies. Jen's distaste for clutter resonated with me, and I had moments of epiphany when reading about her shopping habits - so glad I'm not the only one that feels a big kick in the pants for my reckless consumerism.
So going in to the holiday season, I'm taking lessons from both books to adopt healthier habits in many areas of my life, becoming a better steward of the money God entrusts to me.
2. Another book chipping away at my hardened heart is from Father Gregory Boyle, a Jesuit priest, who has spent the majority of his life loving God and loving gang members in East Los Angeles - those who were outcasts, murders, criminals, thieves...hmm, just like Jesus did!
My heart broke for every story of redemption through Father Boyle's work. My heart shattered when reading a redeemed man or woman who found salvation had been murdered. They say hurt people hurt people. But Father Boyle works to change their trajectory. I was lucky enough to hear Father Boyle speak last month at a conference on equity in education. He is a bright light in the world.
3. Walking into my son's room tonight, worn from the day, but mostly from a week of single-parentdom while my husband was out of town for work, I dragged myself in a huff to read another story to my 5 year old. Shame. On. Me. My son, as if knowing there would be a book to make me feel like a total jerk, picked out:
This book, though read several times in the last couple years that we've had it, was exactly what I needed tonight. Psalm 23 is gold. It is one of the most profound chapters in Psalms. "I have everything I need." When life is hard, God is still all I need. Love God. Love his people. It really isn't complicated.
What is complicated is what I have to consider before I love his people. Some people aren't safe - around me and/or my kids. This doesn't mean I am rude or callous toward others. It means I avoid. I am completely aware of it when I do. The challenge then is to find ways to be loving when I don't feel unsafe. And do it big.
4. So today, when I was praying over what this might look like, I happened over to a Facebook post from a relative. Early in her high-risk pregnancy, no real job, and living in a place where winter has already arrived, she asked for fuzzy socks from her circle. One friend suggested she go on Craigslist. Feeling the Spirit move, I thought about what Jen Hatmaker wrote about her circle of friends who rally at the very mention of helping a sister in need, I thought of what this looked like for a relative several hundred miles away. Within a few hours, she had an Amazon wishlist and I started posting it in groups. Then Facebook itself. I ordered a few items for her and prayed that strangers would feel moved by the Spirit to help her as well. This is love too.
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