Oh, I’d heard of him lots.

Seen him quoted in other books.

But I’d never read anything by him.

That is changing.

And I’m hooked.

Finally reading The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard.

Oh my word.

In light of yesterday’s post, I feel the need to quote him a bit.

See, the old me would have read that post and then panicked slightly.  I need to do more.  To serve more.  To make sure I don’t lose rewards.  (Okay, this is still a current struggle.)

But, as Foster points out, “Actually this reality is not something we can bring about by gritting our teeth and fortifying our will.  There are things for us to do, as we shall see, but they are more like getting in step with the Leader than blazing the trail for ourselves”  (Freedom of Simplicity, pg. 120).

It’s the internal transformation and walking in the Spirit that makes the difference.

Says Willard, “We have noted how he [Jesus] entered human history through the life of an ordinary family.  But then, as God’s flash point in reigniting eternal life among us, he inducts us into the eternal kind of life that flows through himself.  He does this first by bringing that life to bear upon our needs, and then by diffusing it throughout our deeds – deeds done with expectation that he and his Father will act with and in our actions” (Willard, pg. 27).

And here is the problem with an open-ended personality trying to tie up a series like this: I continually am picking up new books that shed important light on the topic.  I promise, though, this is the last one.  I need to work on the discipline of finishing.

So in an attempt to be public about this: Finishing a few points in Generous Justice.  A couple more topics in Money, Possessions and Eternity, a couple more thoughts from 7, and one main topic from Hybels’ The Power of a Whisper.  Probably with Willard and Foster quotes interspersed.

I know you didn’t need to know that.  I’m typing it for myself.

Do you struggle with finishing?  I like the ongoing act of learning and living.  Finishing is so…final.  But finish I must. 

Let me know any thoughts you have.  Help me soldier on!