Pastors Blog

I have sometimes been accused of enjoying movies. A lot. And it’s true. I do. I enjoy a good story that is well told. Action. Adventure. Love stories (yes, that too). Comedy. Drama. Science fiction. Thrillers. Even documentaries. As long as they are good stories, well told.  Whether it's a movie, a book or a life, good stories are important.

A couple of years ago Donald Miller wrote a book about story telling and the story of our lives entitled, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years. Donald Miller may not be for everyone (although, honestly, I can't imagine why not), but I deeply appreciate his writing style, his commitment to Christ and his belief that we all have a story, not only to tell, but to write – the story of our lives and what God can do through in and through us. Don had written a book, a best seller, and had “hit it big”, as they say. Once he had accomplished that dream, however, he realized that it would be a pretty sad story to say that he had written a best seller, sold a million copies and become famous. The end. That, he realized, was not a good story.

He has since made his story better, quite excellent, actually. Don Miller launched The Mentoring Project, an organization that “seeks to respond to the American crisis of fatherlessness by inspiring and equipping faith communities to mentor fatherless youth.” A key part of their strategy is to see the Church stand in the gap for the fatherless. The mission statement adds, “With a newfound focus on mentoring, we believe that the American church could effectively shut down prisons, curb youth suicide, and reduce homelessness and change this story.”

Don Miller’s story and that of The Mentoring Project is a great story.

What story are you writing, telling, living? Who are the characters God has brought into your life? Where is the dialogue headed? What is the plot? How can you write a better story with a terrific ending? You don’t have to start a foundation; you just have to keep in step with the Spirit and go where he leads.