I’ve been on a non-fiction reading binge for the last few weeks, and one book spoke to my heart regarding the excesses in my life. Jen Hatmaker’s Seven emphasizes how Americans are drowning in consumerism. She and a few of her close-knit friends conducted an experiment and committed to whittling down the excesses in their lives.
For one month, she only ate seven foods (sweet potatoes, apples, bread, eggs, avocadoes, chicken, and spinach). The next, month she wore the same seven articles of clothing; then she gave away seven things from her home every day for a month. Get the picture? The book opened my eyes to fasting from anything that’s distracting us from God.
The author emphasizes not to try all the crazy things she and her friends did, but to search our hearts and see how the Holy Spirit speaks to you.
I cleaned out my closet and made a trip to Goodwill. Big deal. I still have a walk-in closet and another double closet crammed with clothes. Maybe, it would be best not to mention I have a shoe closet.
Before reading this book, I hadn’t realized I have a shopping problem. I considered fasting from buying clothes for seven months. Thank goodness, my husband talked me out of that radical idea. He suggested I try to abstain for seven days. I rolled my eyes and committed to fast from buying things for myself for seven weeks, and today, I can breathe a sigh of relief. I made it. But really, how sad is it, I can’t commit to fast from shopping for seven months?
When I started my experiment, I asked God to show me how He wanted me to use the money I would have spent on all those clothes I don’t need. On the first Sunday of the fast, I ran into someone taking a six-week leave-of-absence from her job to build a kitchen at an orphanage in Honduras. Then I had the opportunity to host five boys who are part of a singing group from Children of the World, an International Children’s Choir. These orphans travel across the U.S. performing and raising an awareness that other orphans need sponsors. Check out: https://worldhelp.net
God made it clear to me I was to feed His sheep. It’s been eye-opening as to how little money it takes to help meet the basic needs of a child in an impoverished country.
I hope you’ll read Seven and consider if there are excesses your life. Reading Jen Hatmaker’s book reminded me I’m blessed far beyond anything I deserve. I am thankful and still considering other changes I need to make. There are too many to list in this short blog post.
As for me, I keep thinking about a handwritten sign I read in an orphanage in Niger. “In you, the Orphan finds mercy.” Hosea 14.3
