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Book Review – A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller

September 30, 2009 By Sandra Heska King


See how you can get a free copy of this book below.

“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?

I have a free copy of this book!  
Everyone who leaves a comment on this post between now and Saturday, October 3, will be entered into a drawing. 

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

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Filed Under: book reviews, stories and reflections

Comments

  1. iambelievinggod says

    September 30, 2009 at 6:51 am

    This is the only review I've read that makes me want to read the book. Thank you. I would love to join you…

  2. Sandy/Snady says

    September 30, 2009 at 7:55 am

    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

  3. Melinda Lancaster says

    September 30, 2009 at 8:24 pm

    I have not read his book. Sounds like it was truly inspiring. Hmmmm…

  4. Dina Sleiman says

    October 1, 2009 at 8:57 am

    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.

  5. Sandy/Snady says

    October 1, 2009 at 9:19 am

    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

  6. Sandy/Snady says

    October 1, 2009 at 9:42 am

    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

  7. Sandy/Snady says

    October 4, 2009 at 8:06 pm

    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

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A tale of two iguanas... I did not see the iguana A tale of two iguanas... I did not see the iguana in the background until I downloaded the photos. That, I believe, is the one that got caught in one of the openings in the neighbor's chain link fence. We tried in several (safe) ways to dislodge it without luck and could think of no other option but to leave it. Somehow it apparently dislodged itself. We also believe this is the pair that was getting into another neighbor's garden. We haven't seen either one since the last cold snap, so we are wondering if they survived. 
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