7 by Jen Hatmaker.
Jen does a 7 month experiement against the excess in her life. She wrote " Seven months, seven areas, reduced to seven simple choices. I'm embarking on a journey of less. It's time to purge the junk and pare down to what is necessary, what is noble. 7 will be an exercise in simplicity with one goal: to create space for God's kingdom to break through." She does this for two reasons- "first and foremost, repentance. 7 will be a tangible way to bow low and repent of greed, ungratefulness, ruined opportunities, and irresponsibility. It's time to admit that I'm trapped in the machine, held by my own selfishness. It's time to face our spending and call it what it is: a travesty. I'm weary of justifying it. So many areas out of control, so much need for transformation. What have we been eating? What are we doing? What have we been buying? What are we wasting? What are we missing? These questions grieve me, as well they should. I'm ready for deconstruction. My second reason is for preparation. Most of my life is still infront of me yet....My children are still young- still entirely impressionable. It's not too late to untether them from the lie of "more" I'm hungry for reconstruction."
Her seven areas were Food, Clothes, Possessions, Media, Waste, Spending, and Stress.
As I finished this book in a matter of five days, it gave me a new and fresh perspective on things. Why can't we be happy with what we have when others have so little? I am always wanting more... I want a wooden bench in the doorway with wooden crates for shoes and coat hangers to hang our jackets that currently rest on our kitchen chairs.. I am always wanting more clothes even though I don't wear half of the stuff thats in my closet and overflowing to Blakelys. With everything that I have, it never seems to be enough, until I read this book and in particular this sentence. "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 had to take a step back and think over my entire life. I too, was born into privilege, and the thought of me wanting more all the time, made me somewhat disgusted with myself.
I thought of this elderly man that I see every night around 5 on a corner bench wrapped up in a sleeping bag. He zips this sleeping bag all the way up to his head and stays like that to get through the cold night. I realize that in some cases there are homeless that brought their situation upon themselves and others ask for money when they could be looking for simple jobs. This man is different, and I honestly feel bad for him. Every time I drive past him in my warm vehicle I just want to hug him and let him know that God is watching over him. One day when I was at the red light I saw this Asian woman walking towards him with a grocery bag full of food. She got his attention and as she handed him the bag, he shook his head no and put his hand up in a "refusing" manner. She shook her head yes, and pushed the bag closer. This man stood up, shook her hand, and said thank you. I drove off before I could see any more but I wanted to honk my horn and when they both looked over I'd give them the thumbs up. It's always nice to see others do service in a world where everyone is so consumed with themselves.
My little 228 page paperback copy is highlighted and scribed with questions and answers that I've asked myself through reading these inspiring words. It's sad that it took reading a book on someone bettering themselves to realize that I am unhappy with me. I suppose though, you have to sometimes compare your life towards someone else to realize if they can be happy with less and their life is still happy and centered around God, then there's no excuse as to why my life can't be the same. I want to be happy with less and be happy with what I have. I know I am blessed; I have a roof over my head, food in the fridge, TV to watch, a computer to type this, clothes to clothe my imperfect body. A family to love and share my happiness and failures with. A good education and a Job that pays me every two weeks on top of teaching me things that will help for my future schooling. I am blessed, and beyond blessed at that. I want blakely to know the importance of being thankful for what she has and that the concept of wanting "more" is completely unnecessary.
Characteristic areas that I struggle with are Control: I am always wanting to be in control, and I freak out if things go array from plan. Judging: Unfortunately, this is something that I am really good at. In Matthew 7:1-2 it says "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged: and for what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." Stress: well theres not much more to say other than it's my middle name. Simplicity: As long as I have a family to love, and the necessities to live, that should be enough.
I would love to do a 4 month experiment on tackling these four struggles, but I am going to be honest and say that would probably only last a week. Instead I am just going to pray and ask for the strength to get me through each day with remembering and touching these four areas. I am not perfect, nor do I intend to be. But maybe if I become better with these four areas, I'll be happy with who I am as a person.
Where there is more room for God, how could happiness not follow?
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Phil. 1:21)