Donald Miller has done it again. Okay, so I haven't read the book yet, but I went to hear him last night and was blown away. Not in a quick, one night 'Wow" way - but in a more subtle, "yes, he's got this right" way. He's only got a few cities left on his tour, and I don't know people near them - so it looks like ya'll missed out if you didn't already see him. But READ the book.
He talked about stories. About what a story is. About what a character is: someone who wants something and overcomes a challenge in order to get it. About how each person has a story. About how we should make our stories GOOD ones.
He told us about how he grew up without a father. He could sit there and think "that stinks". But that would make for a very boring story. So instead, he started a mentoring project for boys in Portland which is going nation-wide in 2010. The Portland school district just asked them for 500 more mentors - because they are making such a huge difference in the lives of kids who grow up in fatherless homes. The mentors are Christians and the school district knows it - and doesn't care. How cool is that?
He talked about Adam - how he had conflict and loneliness before the fall. Adam was lonely. Next sentence: God told him to name the animals. What? Geez - thanks, God. Finally, God gave Adam a mate. Jesus doesn't fill the hole in your heart -- that would be the final resolution to the story, and we all know that resolution doesn't come until we meet our Maker face to face and are restored to him, how it was in the beginning. If full resolution came here on earth by "meeting Jesus" - we'd all be running around naked and praising God all day long (this is where he mentioned his 'wang' hanging out in the grocery store, which was pretty darn funny). There will be conflict in the story. There NEEDS to be conflict - that's what's gonna make a good story.
Then he talked about what you, as a character, want and what challenges you face in getting what you want. Do you want a new car? A nice house? A cooler phone? Cause that's a really boring story. When the credits roll, will a tear drop from your eye if the protagonist finally gets that brand new car? No. Lame story. You have to want something more than that. You have to have bigger challenges than that. I'm pretty sure he's not saying "go out and make life difficult" - rather, want GOOD things - want BIG things - things that challenge you and the world. His example: seeing 15% of prisons close because of the mentoring program. He gave amazing stats on how over 80% of young males in prison grew up in fatherless homes. Over 70% of rapists grew up in fatherless homes. Wow. And there's something he, and many other people who come alongside the project, can do about that. Good story.
The reason we want "stuff" is because we live in a consumerist society. That is why we have also advertised Jesus in this way - "Jesus fills that hole in your heart. When you know Jesus, you will be complete. Just say yes to Jesus!" ????? But Adam wasn't completely fulfilled. And he knew God better than any of us.
Anyhow - go out and get a copy of the book. I'm going to. Then we can chat about it more in-depth.
And - just to make this interesting, I am asking you to think about your story right now - what you WANT and are working hard to get -- and post it as a comment. Let's see what my readers (all three of you) WANT. Actually, Donald says that people should know what you WANT by your actions. But still - we don't live all that close together. I look forward to your responses!
10 comments:
Really? You want your three readers to be an open book on the internet??? Well...what I want more than anything now is for Trey Amos to come home. That is definitely a big part of my story for the past many months. I also want all those little people in GLA to go to their homes. I want them to be healthy, happy and I want them to bring joy to the families that are waiting for them.
I need to read the book though, because what about the stories of people in many developing countries who just want enough food to live? Or maybe a home to live it? Or maybe for their child to not die, or to not have to give their child up? How can those make good stories? I don't know...just some questions I have. Have a good week sweetie! Love you. Mom
i just posted a LAME post on my blog about how i bought a dress in the midst of my spending freeze. i do not want big picture things. i am a little picture person right now. i want to be sane and happy. i want my kids to be smart and happy. i want my husband to be less-busy and happy too. but what's with all this happiness business? you're right. it's a lame story. a very blessed lame story. i need to read the book too. hope to talk to you soon! and i enjoyed donna's post! so now are we waiting for erika, the frickin missionary's comment now?... love ya!!!
I want America to become a more socially equitable country. A country that will invest in all its own people, rather than a select few, and spread its prosperity around the world. I want the world to become a cleaner, healthier place, where global citizens consume resources at a rate that doesn't impinge on future generation's ability to succeed.
As for me, I am using my profession as the primary tool to play a part in achieving these ends.
-Jandie
I want to see ALL women have access to prenatal care and support during their childbearing years. I want to see the infant mortality rates and abortion rates decrease dramatically because of the care provided by dedicated professionals. I want parents to value their children and be involved in their kids' lives. I want fathers to be engaged in parenthood from the conception of the child on through the rest of life. I believe that if all of this happens, teen pregnancy rates and teen crime rates might also fall.
I want to have lots of children that are healthy and most importantly, know God. I also want to learn how to play my banjo while riding a unicycle. I really think it would big a great skill to have.
I want to remain awesome.... Seriously though, I'm not sure about what I want. I figure I'll know it when I get it and that's fine with me.
I want to learn how to create and build growth-generating, sustainable businesses. Then use the profits to further the development of God's kingdom, funding missionaries, church plants and global missions projects.
When all this is set in motion, I want to open a bed and breakfast and serve people meals. Then sit with them and hear their stories...
wow, this is such a cool idea. love reading the responses. sorry it took me so long to respond.
as for me, i just want to be an auntie! :)
i also want people to not want THINGS so much.
want i really want is my generation to reverse cultural norms and live for something bigger and outside of ourselves.
right now I want to be able to speak my second language well enough that I can share the words of Jesus without feeling like I'm adding to many misunderstandings they already have. I want to feel more comfortable in this country...cause right now I just like to stay in my little apartment watching my american tv shows on the internet. I also want my son to be so confident in his identity in Christ that it never really bothers him that he's the odd kid out.
Sorry for the delay... you know a good question has been asked when it takes time to formulate an answer :)
I want to redeem systems of oppression. my current passion is the industrial food system and it's implications on the poor in the US.
it was so good seeing you last weekend!!
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