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“Ooohhh, Grandma. You are writing in your book!”
“I know, but there are a couple neat things here I want to remember.”
As I thumbed through the book again, though, I discovered I had underlined and starred areas on almost every page.
I had no idea, really, of what to expect when I began to read A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller. I read the entire book in two days—an easy, yet very deep, very powerful read. I laughed and I cried. And when I put the book aside, I felt kind of a mellow inspiration.
I’ve had recent conversations with others about writing a new story, but I couldn’t really wrap my head around the concept.
Now I get it!
Don is forced into editing his past life when he works with a couple of screen writers. He considered the role he played in his story to date and realized he spent a lot of his time daydreaming. He acknowledged that his life was actually empty of real stories and felt the “absent glory of a life that could have been.”
He writes, “I wasn’t living any kind of sacrifice. My entire life had been designed to make myself more comfortable, to insulate myself from the interruption of my daydreams.”
And so he sets out to intentionally create a new life story filled with meaning, risk, and beauty. And he shares the stories of others who are doing that, too.
He reminds us that our own country is “connected by roads one can ride a bike down. If you watch the news and there’s a tragedy at a house in Kansas, that guy’s driveway connects with yours, and you’d be surprised how few roads it takes to get there. The trip taught us that we were all neighbors, that my life is connected to everybody else’s, that one person’s story has the power to affect millions.”
And he expresses that it seems as though God is saying, “Write a good story, take somebody with you, and let me help.”
If you want more meaning in your life, this is a must read. I am starting my second read tonight with pen and paper in hand as I begin to write a new story of my own. Will you join me?
Answer this question: Do you think it’s possible to “write” a new life story?
Member of Thomas Nelson Book Review Blogger Program http://brb.thomasnelson.com/
Copyright © 2009 by Sandra Heska King
This is the only review I've read that makes me want to read the book. Thank you. I would love to join you…
Very cool, Jill! Can you imagine what it would be like if a handful or hundreds or thousands of us intentionally decided to "cross mountains and swim against currents?"
I spent a few moments on your blog this morning. What a beautiful heart you have!
Beholding God With You,
Snady
I have not read his book. Sounds like it was truly inspiring. Hmmmm…
I read Miller's "Blue Like Jazz," so it's surprising to hear that he felt like he had no stories in his life 🙂
This sounds interesting though, please enter me in the drawing. dinasleiman at gmail dot com.
I do think its possible to write a new story. God makes all things new. Sometimes it seems as though people will never change, but I've seen God do deep works in peoples' hearts that proves otherwise.
So, Melinda…you need to read this book! My sense is you could have told Don a little about writing a new life story. Certainly God is the overall author, but I guess the question for me is am I willing to cooperate with Him in transforming within my role–enter a new chapter–respond to an "inciting event" in a way that brings even more meaning?
Beholding Him with you,
Snady
Hi Dina! I'm so glad you stopped by.
From the book:
*******
Steve said, "We are going to take the essence of you and find the story."…
Essentially, we were adapting my life.
"I mean no disrespect," I said. "But what is wrong with the Don in the book?"…
Steve sat thoughtfully and collected his ideas…"A movie is going somewhere."
"What Steve is trying to say" Ben spoke up…"is that your real life is boring."
It didn't occur to me at the time, but it's obvious now that in creating the fictional Don, I was creating the person I wanted to be, the person worth telling stories about.
*******
Lots of good life and even writing wisdom in here. You will love it! I'll bet you'll read it again and mark it up like I did. 🙂
Beholding God with you,
Sandy
Dina, you have won the book. 😀 I will email you for you snail mail addy.
Melinda and Jill – I wish I had more copies. The book will be worth every penny, though!
Thanks all for commenting.
Hugs,
Sandy