Christianity,  Nonfiction

One Thousand Gifts

15 February, 2011 /

When I first read about Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are, I couldn’t wait to read it. The title, and the trailer I watched over at the author’s blog, seemed to promise something I need.

For the most part, the book delivers. It recounts Ann Voskamp’s odyssey of gratitude, which began when she responded to a dare to list 1,000 things she was thankful for. She laid a journal open on the counter and began, without any idea of how the process would change her heart and her experience of faith. As she puts it,

A lifetime of sermons on “thanks in all things” and the shelves sagging with books on these things and I testify: life-changing gratitude does not fasten to a life unless nailed through with one very specific nail at a time.

I was challenged to start paying closer attention to my life. Honestly, it has been awhile since I felt the real goodness of it. I remember a time several years ago when I was out running one morning in the spring, and I was so conscious of the richness of the ordinary. If I had to put into words what my reflexive mindset is now, I’d say “weary.” I can list some practical reasons. But things weren’t perfect before, either, and some aspects of life are better now — present stresses notwithstanding. Why am I so tired? I was interested in what Ann Voskamp had to say, and I come away with a renewed understanding of God’s generosity and love.

I struggled with the book too. The writing reminded me of Annie Dillard, whose prose is so elaborate it distracts me from what is being said to how it’s being said. It’s tempting to call it poetic, but the best poets are spare and disciplined with their words. They work to stay out of the way.

There were a couple of other stumbling blocks that kept this book from really winning me over. But it is a very personal expression of faith, an honest account of its author’s spiritual journey, and in that sense it’s an offering I prefer to receive with, well, thanks. Many of us may be tempted to think of ourselves as “glass half full” or “glass half empty” people by nature, but One Thousand Gifts reminds us that we are new creations. Something as simple as a notebook on the kitchen counter can become an open door to change at the deepest levels of our spiritual character.

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8 Comments

  • Barbara H.

    15 February, 2011 at 2:56 pm

    I just ordered that book. I was resisting — somehow when it seems everyone is talking about a book, I’m disinclined toward it. Latent anti-bandwagon tendencies, I guess. But I skimmed the first chapter online and that sold me. I just received it but hadn’t started it yet.

    I’ve only recently started reading Ann’s blog — I had been referred there through links at various other places so many times that I decided to subscribe. I get a little lost sometimes in her writing. But mostly I enjoy it.

  • Janet

    15 February, 2011 at 3:20 pm

    Yes — same here. I check in there now and then, and get a little lost, and enjoy.

    I have latent anti-bandwagon tendencies too. My own fault — when everyone else is praising something my expectations can rise too high.

  • DebD

    15 February, 2011 at 3:39 pm

    I wrote somewhere else that I have tried to visit and like Ann’s blog, but somehow her prose doesn’t speak to me (length and style both). But, this book does sound like it has some very important words to speak to us all.

    And, I’m definitely an anti-bandwagon person too.

  • Carrie, Reading to Know

    15 February, 2011 at 4:06 pm

    Glad you reviewed this! I’ve seen the book around, of course, but hadn’t looked into it and didn’t know what it was about.

    I haven’t read Dillard either. Which I’m thinking is a reading deficiency. Hmm.

    Anyway, thank you!

  • Amy @ Hope Is the Word

    15 February, 2011 at 7:58 pm

    I’m still reading this one, sort of. I confess a real weakness for easy fiction. I’ll get back to it, though; I’m an Ann fan, and her transformation through thanksgiving is one I could/would/should/will? gladly undergo.

  • Brianna Van Dyke

    16 February, 2011 at 6:10 pm

    Hi Janet,

    I stumbled upon your wonderful blog today. What great work! I would like to send you a complimentary subscription to Ruminate, a literary, arts, and faith magazine that I edit. If you’re interested, can you email me your mailing address?

    Thanks again for your good and inspiring words,
    Brianna

  • Alice@Supratentorial

    19 February, 2011 at 10:56 am

    I reviewed this book this week also. I had some of the same thoughts as you and the other commenters. Anti-bandwagon, and her style of writing isn’t my favorite. I really enjoyed the book though and know it will stay with me for a long time. I’ve been keeping a gratitude list of my own since the beginning of the year, and although I was first skeptical about that as well (way too Oprahish for my taste) it has also been really really good. I’d even say life-changing.