Would you actually make it through the debut of a movie based on your life?
Let’s be honest, how inspiring or interesting would it be? Would you or the rest of us, fall asleep during the story called your life? Do you find yourself getting into a boring cycle, of seemingly meaningless activities, like waking up on Monday morning, with Friday on their mind? These are some of the unsettling thoughts and questions I was inspired to confront, while reading Donald Miller’s new book, A Thousand Miles, in a Million Years.
It begins with him being approached by two screenwriters, who pitch him on the idea of making a movie based on his New York Times bestseller, Blue Like Jazz. Donald is hesitant at first, because he can’t really imagine watching his collection of memoir styled essays on the big screen. And this hesitation is somewhat confirmed while trying to collaboratively come up with a watchable story. What he discovers is that his real life is, well, kind of boring, and that the editing process of creating a watchable movie, can be used in actually creating a better, and more meaningful story in his real life.
Here’s part of the blurb from the back cover:
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years chronicles Miller’s rare opportunity to edit his life into a great story, to reinvent himself so nobody shrugs their shoulders when the credits roll. Through heart-wrenching honesty and hilarious self-inspection, Donald Miller takes readers through the life that emerges when it turns from boring reality into a meaningful narrative.
Miller goes from sleeping all day to riding his bike across America, from living in romantic daydreams to fearful encounters with true love, from wasting his money to founding a nonprofit with a passionate cause.
I can really relate to the theme of this book in so many ways. I strongly believe in taking an intentional approach to ones life, and designing it in such a way that you don’t look back at an unfinished piece of art. Yes, circumstances push us around in certain directions, and sometimes life can get pretty monotonous. But its surprising at times to realize the amount of power one still has to shape his or her own circumstances. This is not to say, that everyone’s real life needs to be filled with random explosions, and enough drama to make the Lifetime channel look like CSPAN. No, what Miller seems to be getting at is the understanding, in a larger sense, of what makes a compelling and endearing character, and by so doing we can reflectively ask how those principles are working in our lives. This decisive and intentional foundation, is even more relevant when considering the larger questions of our lives. Like meaning, purpose, and the human condition.
Miller’s narrative leads him to then consider the tension between being in a larger story written by a supreme Author who may desire to write a better character and story for us, and the innate desire on our part to control and live a smaller, mediocre life, or a broken story. He also concludes with some general suggestions on how to combat the meaningless areas in our lives. I closed the final chapter, much more resolved in the power I have to chose the story I wanted to live, sparked with some huge ideas to live for, and also more in tune with what makes a good character and story, and some insights into how the Christian narrative claims to promote a better story. Not one of mindless religion, where better stories are told, but seldom lived, but of living that better story in a real world full of meaninglessness and “bad stories”.
Writers, or creative people in general will appreciate this book. You almost get two books for the price of one. By giving us a peek into the creative process of writing a book and screenplay, Miller also manages to reveal how his own life transformed from a rut to one of “risk, possibility, beauty and meaning”. He transfers this hope to us quite eloquently, in his usual laid back approach, disarming, and self deprecating style of humor.
One chapter in my story is exploretruth.com It’s my hope that by sharing my attempts at living a more intentional life. By boldly facing the grave questions of our human condition. By connecting and learning from people like you, who are on your own journeys. And by learning to live with death, pain, uncertainty, and the shortness of life. I will find a truer state of being. One that will educate and inspire a sense of urgency, appreciation, purpose, and honesty in my life, and who knows, maybe in the life of someone else as well.
Don’t wait until New Years Eve to read this book, just opt for the existential kick in the pants you could get today! I made the mistake of beginning to read it at Barnes & Noble. So you know what that means. Instead of saving a few bucks online, I walked out with not just that book, but another one. smh(that’s shaking my head, for all of you who actually speak english). Oh…He also is in the middle of his book tour, and I hope to meet him in November. Maybe I’ll snag a short interview with him. We’ll see…If there are any Florida Miller fans who read this, and want to go, or meet up, let me know!
Written by Veron Graham
Topics: Interviews