Apparently it had my name written all over it. Within a week I had three people tell me I HAD to read this book. I had no idea why or what it was about but I figured I would give it a shot. “7: An experimental Mutiny against excess” , a simple book that I simply adore.

Jen Hatmaker, the author, takes 7 areas of her life that she felt were lived in excess. 7 areas that most EVERY American lives in excess. In each area she scaled down, moved out, or altered her view away from the clutter and onto the cross.



Here is the basis of her 7 month experiment:

Food. Clothes. Spending. Media. Possessions. Waste. Stress. They would spend thirty days on each topic, boiling it down to the number seven.
 Only eat seven foods, wear seven articles of clothing, and spend money in seven places. Eliminate use of seven media types, give away seven things each day for one month, adopt seven green habits, and observe “seven sacred pauses.”

Why you ask?

When accumulation is not our bottom line, we are liberated to disperse our time and resources differently.
Jesus was the most fully and completely unselfish, ungredy, unpretentious man to ever live, and I just want to be more like Him.
For whatever reason I was born into privilege; I’ve never known hunger, poverty, or despair. I have been blessed, blessed, bleeesed. My life is so happy it’s almost embarrassing.

These are her quotes but they could have just as easily been said by me (only probably not as eloquent).

Each area of drastic modifications in her life caused a consistent physical reminder and a spiritual awakening. There are so many blessings that we casually enjoy and take for granted while so much of the world has far less.
A fast from self obsession, greed, apathy, and elitism.
It is not a protest, just a simple daily reminder to revive our hearts and put the spotlight on Jesus instead of stuff.
And for the record, she is really funny. When she mentioned her first attempt at a garden she remarked, “my melons are not growing, the last time I said that I was in 7th grade”-my personal favorite

Feeling extremely inspired I decided to try it out myself…ok well actually “I” is a huge understatement. I am part of a book club. A sisterhood of jesus loving girlfriends who love to stay up late, cook amazing foods, and help each other live the life created for us. We all took one area from the “7” experiment to focus on this month.

I am doing the seven sacred pauses.
What is that? I am blogging about it tomorrow so you should probably come back

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