I just finished reading 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Access. I had heard many good things about it on the blogosphere and I had been wanting to read something about being more aware of people less fortunate than me. I was looking for a book that would teach me something on servanthood and simplifying. When I first started reading it I thought it was a bit too “fluffy” and silly for my tastes. I decoded to keep on reading since I had heard so many good things about it and I’m so glad I did! Jen Hatmaker did an experiment with her family regarding seven different areas of their life. Those areas were food, clothes, possessions, media, waste, spending, and stress.
She told a story about her family taking in another family that got displaced during hurricane Ike. She overheard one of the boys say to his “Dad this white dude is rich!” Jen goes on to say, ” We have a beautiful home in a great neighborhood. Our kids are in a Texas exemplary school. We drive two cars under warranty. We’ve never gone a day without health insurance. Our closets are overflowing. We throw away food we didn’t eat, clothes we barely wore, trash that will never disintegrate, stuff that fell out of fashion. And I was so blinded I didn’t even know we were rich.”
I felt very convicted during many parts of the book. Jen decided to narrow down her eating habits to only seven foods for a month for the first part of the experiment. It made me think about all the food choices I have. So many people in other parts of the world have very little food and no choices. So many times my family and I will complain that there is nothing to eat when we are staring at a whole pantry full of food!
She did the same thing with her wardrobe the second month. She limited herself to only seven items of clothing. This included footwear. How many times I have I looked into my walk in closet full of clothes and claimed, “I have nothing to wear!” It would be a challenge for me to only wear seven items of clothing. After reading the book I decided I was going to go two months without purchasing any new clothing. I was going to get as much use out of the clothing I already had. I noticed that I really didn’t miss getting new clothes and was more appreciative of the ones I had. I came up with new combinations of clothes to wear.
Jen decided to give away seven possessions every day during month three, for a whole month. I haven’t done this yet, but I have taken several bags to Goodwill over the past two months. It seems like I am always getting rid of stuff. It’s good to go through the clutter, but did I really need all of that in the first place? Jen says, “Are we really doing something honorable with our stuff other than consuming it? I’m not sure carting it all off after we’re bored with those particular items is a helpful response since we just replace it with more.” It sure makes you think. I do try to pause now before I purchase something and ask myself why I’m purchasing it.
During month four the family dealt with media. Different members of the family participated in various degrees. Some gave up cell phones, gaming controllers were locked up, some gave up facebook. The kids computer was unplugged. What did the family do instead? They played games, they cooked together, etc. How often does media get in the way of our quality time with our family?
The fifth month was waste. Jen asked herself, “Does creation have anything to do with God whom I call creator?” She came up with seven habits for a greener life. Those habits were gardening, composting, conserving energy and water, recycling everything, driving only one car, shopping thrift and second hand, and
buying only local. That seems like a tall order. We do recycle. Our town makes it very easy. We don’t even have to separate anything. They supply us with a huge garbage can size recycling can. I do shop second hand once in a while. I’ve tried gardening, but I seem to kill everything. Maybe I will try again.
Tomorrow I will look at the last two chapters dealing with spending and stress. If you would like to take a look at this book you can do so on the right of my side bar.
I did that book with a few other bloggers last summer. Instead of a month per category, we took it a week at a time. I was wrecked. Clothing and Media week left me crying and banging my fists. Great book that surely opens your eyes!
What a great idea. Sounds like it would make a good book for our book club. I am always trying to find ways to declutter and simplify our lives. We certainly work hard and take for granted the food on our table and the value of health insurance. Thanks for the recommendation, visiting from SITS!
I just put this book on my list – thanks for the recommendation. I tried to go down to a capsule wardrobe last year, and I’d like to apply that to other areas of my life.