Seven

Last week I read a blog entry that set my mind racing.  As the author (Jen Hatmaker) described it, a

A seven-month experimental mutiny against excess, tackling seven areas of overconsumption in the spirit of a fast; a fast from greed, irresponsibility, apathy, and insatiability. Each area boiled down to just seven choices for a month:


Food.
Clothes.
Possessions.
Media.
Waste.
Spending.
Stress.


Only seven foods for a month. Only seven pieces of clothes for a month. Give away seven things we own a day for a month. Eliminate seven forms of media for a month. Adopt seven substantial habits for a greener life. Spend money in only seven places. Practice "seven sacred pauses" a day and observe the Sabbath...a deeply reduced life to find a greatly increased God.

Thanks to a Christmas gift card (in this month of striving to stick within our budgeted amounts), 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess was soon sitting on my Kindle.  I could relate to her retelling of how the plan took shape in the shower one morning, her bent toward total immersion as the best way to learn, and the feeling that we are surrounded by TOO.MUCH.  (Even in our personal situation that by many would be considered NOT. ENOUGH.)  Each chapter detailed her family's efforts in one of the seven areas to "create space for God's kingdom to break through", and included both the highlights and honest challenges of breaking away from our society's norms in that area even for a short time.  

Throughout the journey, she discovered that part of this fasting from the things that surround us daily and that we often view as necessary (though that was often proven to be a false view) was that the discipline of choosing over and over again to curb an appetite began to change her in ways beyond that specific fast.  In describing the relationship between possessions and our spiritual life, she points out the many times that Jesus talked about how hard it is for the wealthy to receive His kingdom.  "If this is true, then more than fearing poverty or simplicity, we should fear prosperity."

Making intentional choices that allow room for God to work in our lives.  Hatmaker emphasized that our journeys would not be exactly the same as hers, since "Your story is God's to write, not mine. . . There isn't a list here.  There is no stencil we can all trace into our lives in perfect unison." I was challenged by the observation that the church in modern day America is far more comfortable with feasting than fasting, not only in the areas of food.  Within our churches, do we even treat Bible studies, sermons, classes, conferences, and training as a feast?  "We are addicted to the buffet, skillfully discarding the costly discipleship required after consuming.  The feast is supposed to sustain the fast, but we go back for seconds and thirds and fourths,stuffed to the brim and fat with inactivity."  How am I living out what I have learned in the years of attending Bible studies and sermons?  Do I put that spiritual energy into action, or just go back for more?

Having finished the book, I find myself examining my own life and asking what areas have I withheld from turning over to God's purposes.  What would God pick in my life that needed to be released?  I already see some areas.  Possessions are a hard one for me to release ~ whether I'm keeping it because of a memory attached, or because it represents an idea of a life I at one point thought I should have, or because someday, I might need it, the hold is strong.   The final chapter on stress is also challenging me to examine my thoughts on needing to be busy all the time.  I'm encouraged to make some intentional decisions about whether the way that I spend my time, treasures, and talents honors God or hinders His work in my life.

**Note about the affiliate links:  We're stepping out in faith that since the big directions God has given us (a daughter named Abigail and building a church) are from Him, He will be making them happen.  Even though we can't see yet the how and when that will happen, we're going to begin taking small steps here and have set up a savings account to support building a church.  Any proceeds that happen to come through the affiliate links will go toward that.  :)