I’ve always had something against getting books as a graduation present — but then I never really read much back then. A few months ago (even though the number of months is actually only a few, this feels like years and years ago) I recieved a book from a very dear friend of mine as a gradation present. When she gave me this book, she told me to turn to a certain page in the book and read a paragraph. It reads:
“But if you have bought this book or recieved it as a gift, then you or someone you know thinks you have the right stuff to lead in the world, and you or someone you know has decided to add a little provocative writing and some very pratical advice to your thought process.”
And that is exactly what this book has done for me.
In general, I usually enjoy books that offer pratical, insightful, and challenging views about life. Although having its flaws, this book didn’t turn out exactly the way I expected it to (the author is this huge politics guy), I think I still learned a lot from this little experience.
The thing that drove the nail in the head was the author’s simple analysis of Luke 19:11-27:
11 As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. 12 He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. 13 Calling ten of his servants, [1] he gave them ten minas, [2] and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ 14 But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ 15 When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business. 16 The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! [3] Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’ 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’ 19 And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ 20 Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; 21 for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 He said to him, ‘I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ 24 And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ 25 And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’ 26 ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 27 But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’”
Hewitt simply added after the passage: “Every ability you have–and the sum of those abilities–gives you opportunities to influence the world. And this is a crucial point: Christ does not consider these opportunities to be optional. He has clearly said that they are obligations.”
Wow. Obligations. Oh how I still sometimes hate that word. (I hate to digress, but I used to associate the word obligations heavily with relationships, which explains a lot how I still sometimes resent both, but I’ve gotten a lot better) I think the thing that struck me (and probably scared me) the most after reading this book is realizing how many gifts that he talked about in the book I actually feel I have in my possession. So now it comes down to understanding and looking for aveunes in which I can apply those gifts.
Recently I’ve put a lot of thoughts and had a lot of conversations about the future: careers, families, relationships, goals… You get the general idea. And it’s soooo exciting knowing that here I am standing at the bottom of this gigantic mountain looking up and wondering how far up I’ll get while taking one step at a time. I know that I’m more than adequately equiped for this and the most exciting thing is knowing that it’ll be a few weeks before the ascend begins.
I can’t wait to see what beautiful and glorious things God have waiting for me to discover. =)
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