Through Painted Deserts

I just finished reading Donald Miller's book "Through Painted Deserts." What an enjoyable read. It is the story of a road trip he took back in the 90's, sometime after high school. Miller is a really incredible storyteller. I think this is what drew me to this book and what kept me in it with anticipation. He invites you into the journey so that you feel as if you are traveling with Paul and himself in their '71 VW Minibus. But what makes it such a great read is the transparency of Miller's thoughts and their progression throughout the trip. I could certainly relate to the wonderings and questions he asked throughout the book concerning the why's of life and the world. Donald Miller let's you look into his mind and heart as he processes through his insecurity, admiration, fears, joys, and faith.

What has it changed in my thinking? I'm not sure except that some of my thoughts aren't that weird or strange. There are other people that analyze life and relationships as I do. There are others that ask questions like me. No one is as neat and tidy as we want to appear on the outside. That relationships are what really matter in this life. The people you love. Your family. your friends. Those that invite you into their lives. To appreciate simplicity and again realizing that TV commercials, movies, ads, and most of what we seem to pursue as important really has no real value. What other people think about us, what group or category we may seem to relate to the most. None of it really matters.

I want to close with an excerpt from the "Through Painted Deserts":

"... I will sleep beneath the stars and whisper thank you to the Creator of the universe, as a way of reacquainting myself to an old friend, a friend who says you don't have to be smart or good-looking or religious or anything; you just have to cling to Him, to love Him, need Him, listen to His story."