A Million Miles in a Thousand Years ~ Donald Miller

I loved this book. Not only was it a good wakeup call, but it talks about several things that I have been specifically thinking a lot about lately. 

Donald Miller has written several books--his most popular being Blue Like Jazz. I read it a couple weeks ago, after my sister read it and loved it. (Read her review here.) I liked it, but there were definitely things I disagreed with, and although the overall topics were good, they weren't as impacting to me. Mama read it after I did, and she loved it, so she ordered some more of Donald Miller's books, which included this one.

His writing his amazing. I know several people who aren't fans of his rather odd style, but I love it. He says things in very unusual and beautiful ways. I just want to memorize the whole book! :-) Although he has very different theological views, I think almost everything he said in A Million Miles in a Thousand Years was dead-on. It does have some content, so it is recommended for older readers. (Maybe 14+).

The gist of the book is this: Each of our lives is a story, and we should make the best story we can out of it. It really tied into what I have been thinking about lately, deliberate living. Consciously thinking about what we are doing, where we are headed, how we are impacting the world by what we do every day.

I get so excited just thinking about the book. I want to read it all over again!

Here's a quote from the book--

"Once you live a good story, you get a taste for a kind of meaning in life, and you can't go back to being normal; you can't go back to the meaningless scenes stitched together by the forgettable tread of wasted time."

I highly recommend the book--it is entertaining, convicting, and just plain amazing.

Have you read it? What did you think?

Deliberate Living

de·lib·er·ate 

adj.

1. Done with or marked by full consciousness of the nature and effects; intentional

2. Arising from or marked by careful consideration: a deliberate decision.

3. Unhurried in action, movement, or manner, as if trying to avoid error.

v.  de·lib·er·at·ed, de·lib·er·at·ing, de·lib·er·ates

v.intr.

1. To think carefully and often slowly, as about a choice to be made.

2. To consult with another or others in a process of reaching a decision.

3. To consider (a matter) carefully and often slowly, as by weighing alternatives.

Deliberate Christian living is something that I have been thinking about recently. What I mean by this is living life consciously and intentionally, instead of rushing through, without set purposes and goals.

I think this is especially applicable to young people, because it is easy to think, as the world tells us, that these years are meant for partying, living it up, and having fun. Have you heard the song "So Young" by the Corrs? Here are a few of the lyrics.

We are taking it easy

Bright and breezy

We are living it up

Just fine and dandy

And it really doesn’t matter that we don’t eat

And it really doesn’t matter that we don’t sleep

It really doesn’t matter, it really doesn’t matter at all

‘Cause we were so young then

We are so young, so young now

And when tomorrow comes

We’ll just do it all again

This is a good example of our culture's attitude toward youth. Youthful immaturity and irresponsibility is meant to be enjoyed and be extended into your adult life as much as possible. 

However, as Christian young people, we should be using these valuable years to serve God and further His kingdom where we are right now.


I think it is important to be thinking consciously about what we are doing with our time. Instead of just bumming around, getting by, racing through life and not really thinking about anything, we should be making practical, specific goals for this period of life and then deliberately pursuing those goals. 


We shouldn't think that life begins when we get married. Even though it is important to prepare in specific areas for when we have our own families, we should realize that God has work for us to do here and now. 

We should be actively finding ways to serve others, which starts with serving joyfully in our own homes. We should be doing things, not just coasting along. There are many ways to serve others--we should choose ones that will help us grow in areas that we would like to grow. Spending time with another family who has young children is a perfect opportunity to learn from a mother and also to be a servant to others.

What are some specific things you want to accomplish with this time of your life? Deepening certain relationships? Learning more about certain topics? Finishing reading a list of books? Can you make a list of achievable goals for this summer? I'll get a post up in the next couple of days with a list of my personal goals for this summer.

Let your eyes look directly forward, 

and your gaze be straight before you. 

Ponder the path of your feet; then all all your ways will be sure. 

Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. 

Proverbs 4:25-27