from "Blue Like Jazz," by Donald Miller
I'm loving this book. It's I guess a memoir, but kind of more just thoughts on Miller's spiritual walk. Look for more quotes to come. (They will not all be this long. I promise.)
He and his friend Andrew the Protester had gone downtown to protest a visit by President Bush with a bunch of people who were protesting things like the war in Iraq and "corporations who were making slaves of Third World labor; and the Republican Party, who gives those corporations so much power and freedom," and all that. The president came, gave his speech, and left, "before we could shake hands and explain our concerns. When we were done I started wondering if we had accomplished anything. I started wondering whether we could actually change the world. I mean, of course we could - we could change our buying habits, elect socially conscious representatives and that sort of thing, but I honestly don't believe we will be solving the greater human conflict with our efforts. The problem is not a certain type of legislation or even a certain politician; the problem is the same that it has always been.
"I am the problem.
"...This is the hardest principle within Christian spirituality for me to deal with.The problem is not out there; the problem is the needy beast of a thing that lives in my chest.
"...I talk about love, forgiveness, social justice; I rage against American materialism in the name of altruism, but have I even controlled my own heart? The overwhelming majority of the time I spend thinking about myself, pleasing myself, reassuring myself, and when I am done there's nothing to spare for the needy. Six billion people live in this world, and I can only muster thoughts for one. Me.
"...I didn't like being reminded about how self-absorbed I was. I wanted to be over this, done with this. I didn't want to live in a broken world or a broken me. I wasn't trying to weasel out of anything, I just wasn't in the mood to be on earth that night. I get like that sometimes...
"...I know now, from experience, that the path to joy winds through this dark valley...I think Jesus feels strongly about communicating the idea of our brokenness, and I think it is worth reflection. Nothing is going to change in the Congo until you and I figure out what is wrong with the person in the mirror."
He and his friend Andrew the Protester had gone downtown to protest a visit by President Bush with a bunch of people who were protesting things like the war in Iraq and "corporations who were making slaves of Third World labor; and the Republican Party, who gives those corporations so much power and freedom," and all that. The president came, gave his speech, and left, "before we could shake hands and explain our concerns. When we were done I started wondering if we had accomplished anything. I started wondering whether we could actually change the world. I mean, of course we could - we could change our buying habits, elect socially conscious representatives and that sort of thing, but I honestly don't believe we will be solving the greater human conflict with our efforts. The problem is not a certain type of legislation or even a certain politician; the problem is the same that it has always been.
"I am the problem.
"...This is the hardest principle within Christian spirituality for me to deal with.The problem is not out there; the problem is the needy beast of a thing that lives in my chest.
"...I talk about love, forgiveness, social justice; I rage against American materialism in the name of altruism, but have I even controlled my own heart? The overwhelming majority of the time I spend thinking about myself, pleasing myself, reassuring myself, and when I am done there's nothing to spare for the needy. Six billion people live in this world, and I can only muster thoughts for one. Me.
"...I didn't like being reminded about how self-absorbed I was. I wanted to be over this, done with this. I didn't want to live in a broken world or a broken me. I wasn't trying to weasel out of anything, I just wasn't in the mood to be on earth that night. I get like that sometimes...
"...I know now, from experience, that the path to joy winds through this dark valley...I think Jesus feels strongly about communicating the idea of our brokenness, and I think it is worth reflection. Nothing is going to change in the Congo until you and I figure out what is wrong with the person in the mirror."
posted by melilotnfosco | 7:42 PM
9 Comments:
Is this directed toward me? ;)
only if you choose to take it that way (or if GOD chooses to have you take it that way ;) ). i just put it there cuz i thought it was good.
I had no idea this was a book. They played the trailer for the movie at "October Baby" and it did not look like something I would want to see at all, but the quotes you put on here look good...
it is so good. my friend had the trailer for the movie posted on fb, saying that for a Christian movie, it was actually good. so i was curious, and thought, 'hm...maybe. it does look different from other Christian movies, which might help cut down on the cheese factor.' (don't get me wrong, Christian movies are a good thing. they just tend to be over-the-top 'and everyone lived with GOD happily ever after.') and then i saw it was based on a book, so i decided sure why not. and i am loving it.
there's going to be a "Blue like Jazz" movie?
I loved that book! I should read it again!
i'm already thinking i'm going to want to when i'm done. it's such easy reading that i'm flying through it, but i'd like to read it more slowly and get more out of it, too.
so i'm finally reading this (well, listening to it on cd), and loving it! since it's 8 months later, i'd forgotten your quotes - but i've picked out the same ones you have.
i especially love the last one. so, so very true.
oh, and i also want to find out for myself how well chocolate and the Bible go together. LOVED the story of how nadine witnessed to penny!
oh, and i also loved the story about the navy seals and the hostages
:D
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