Blue Like Jazz
So I don't know if anyone really reads this; I haven't posted anything in over a year, I think. But I rediscovered livejournal somewhat recently, although I still don't really read people's updates. Sorry. My attention span is not that long. And I still probably won't update often. But I've been looking over a book I read a while back called Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller, and I'm remembering how much I loved it.
Yet there is part of me that doesn’t like it. It makes me think about who I am, and that is sometimes disheartening. It helps me stare my problems in the face and recognize the changes I need to make. So then I go back to liking it again because it inspires me to change. In a good way.
Anyway, here’s a section of the book that I really love, and maybe (if you happen to be reading this) you’ll like it to.
“What people believe is important. What people believe is more important that how they look, what their skills are, or their degree of passion. Passion about nothing is like pouring gasoline in a car without wheels. It isn’t going to lead anybody anywhere.
My friend Andrew the Protester believes things. Andrew goes to protests where he gets pepper-sprayed, and he does it because he believes in being a voice of change. My Republican friends get frustrated when I paint Andrew as a hero, but I like Andrew because he actually believes things that cost him something. Even if I disagree with Andrew, I love that he is willing to sacrifice for what he believes. And I love that his beliefs are about social causes.
Andrew says it is not enough to be politically active. He says legislation will never save the world. On Saturday mornings Andrew feeds the homeless. He sets up a makeshift kitchen on a sidewalk and makes breakfast for people who live on the street. He serves coffee and sits with his homeless friends and talks and laughs, and if they want to pray he will pray with them. He’s a flaming liberal, really. The thing about it is, though, Andrew believes this is what Jesus wants him to do. Andrew does not believe in empty passion.
All great Christian leaders are simple thinkers. Andrew doesn’t cloak his altruism within a trickle-down economic theory that allows him to spend fifty dollars on a round of golf to feed the economy and provide jobs for the poor, he means that you should do this directly.
Andrew is the one who taught me that what I believe is not what I say I believe; what I believe is what I do.”
The think about this, though, is that this doesn’t just apply to Christians. It applies to everyone. If you believe people should love others, regardless of personal beliefs, then do that. If you believe people should…I don’t know…be polite to their elders, then that’s what you should do.
It’s so simple, and yet I, personally, fail to do this quite often. It’s depressing, but at the same time it’s exciting- I can look forward working on doing what I believe. As Scarlet O’Hara said, “Tomorrow is another day!”
So, suffice it to say, regardless of your religious beliefs you should read this book. It’s quite good.
Yet there is part of me that doesn’t like it. It makes me think about who I am, and that is sometimes disheartening. It helps me stare my problems in the face and recognize the changes I need to make. So then I go back to liking it again because it inspires me to change. In a good way.
Anyway, here’s a section of the book that I really love, and maybe (if you happen to be reading this) you’ll like it to.
“What people believe is important. What people believe is more important that how they look, what their skills are, or their degree of passion. Passion about nothing is like pouring gasoline in a car without wheels. It isn’t going to lead anybody anywhere.
My friend Andrew the Protester believes things. Andrew goes to protests where he gets pepper-sprayed, and he does it because he believes in being a voice of change. My Republican friends get frustrated when I paint Andrew as a hero, but I like Andrew because he actually believes things that cost him something. Even if I disagree with Andrew, I love that he is willing to sacrifice for what he believes. And I love that his beliefs are about social causes.
Andrew says it is not enough to be politically active. He says legislation will never save the world. On Saturday mornings Andrew feeds the homeless. He sets up a makeshift kitchen on a sidewalk and makes breakfast for people who live on the street. He serves coffee and sits with his homeless friends and talks and laughs, and if they want to pray he will pray with them. He’s a flaming liberal, really. The thing about it is, though, Andrew believes this is what Jesus wants him to do. Andrew does not believe in empty passion.
All great Christian leaders are simple thinkers. Andrew doesn’t cloak his altruism within a trickle-down economic theory that allows him to spend fifty dollars on a round of golf to feed the economy and provide jobs for the poor, he means that you should do this directly.
Andrew is the one who taught me that what I believe is not what I say I believe; what I believe is what I do.”
The think about this, though, is that this doesn’t just apply to Christians. It applies to everyone. If you believe people should love others, regardless of personal beliefs, then do that. If you believe people should…I don’t know…be polite to their elders, then that’s what you should do.
It’s so simple, and yet I, personally, fail to do this quite often. It’s depressing, but at the same time it’s exciting- I can look forward working on doing what I believe. As Scarlet O’Hara said, “Tomorrow is another day!”
So, suffice it to say, regardless of your religious beliefs you should read this book. It’s quite good.