Can I just come right out and say it? We got too much dang stuff! Is that a shock to you? Does it throw you for a loop to hear that we, as Americans, have too much stuff? Probably not. You’ve heard it over and over again. We are a privileged people. Well-to-do. Blessed.
One of my favorite authors, Jen Hatmaker, has just written a book called 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess, and rocked my world! Brilliantly written in a journal format, Jen puts us in the passenger seat to ride this experiment right alongside her.
If you’re looking for a fun read that will leave you feeling super good about yourself and cause you to pat yourself on the back for what a great job and contribution you are to the planet, look elsewhere. Jen takes us through 7 months of 7 key areas where we are confronted with the fact that we wear, spend, waste, eat, possess, play, and stress too much!
She takes 7 months, 7 areas of excess (food, clothes, possessions, media, waste, spending, and stress), and reduces each month down to 7 simple choices.
Her whole point: to create space for God’s kingdom to break through.
So, for example, Jen started out her 7 journey with food. Not one of you can deny that we have an excess of food, right? Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve noticed, the combos at Burger King getting bigger, the burgers at McDonald’s getting fattier, and everything at Chick-Fil-A getting yummier. I mean, come on, what can you say bad about CFA?
Jen takes her first month and focuses on food. She limits herself to 7 items: chicken, eggs, whole wheat bread, sweet potatoes, spinach, avocados, and apples. And water. Oh, sweet Jen, how did you survive without coffee? Ugh. You almost lost me at month 1.
And that is how she spent that first month. With the way Jen writes you feel like you are suffering with her. You struggle with her. You start making excuses for her. ”Oh, Jen, no one will know. Just one smear of mayonnaise. You’ve earned it, girl!” And this goes on for 6 more months!
Not only does she do the actual experiment, but throughout the month you learn so much about that particular topic. For instance, during the month of waste, I learned an overabundance about composting. I mean right down to the very scientific formula needed to have a successful compost pile. Who knew?
I took away so much from this book! So convicting. I am very close to starting my own 7 experiment. Mine will include coffee.
