Okay, so I’ve been digging into this whole “Practicing the Way” thing by John Mark Comer. It’s not just a book, it’s like, a whole vibe, you know? I’m all about self-improvement and getting closer to, well, you know, the big guy upstairs. So I figured, why not give this a shot? Let me tell you, it’s been a bit of a ride.
Getting Started
First off, I grabbed the book. And let me tell you, just holding it made me feel like I was about to embark on some epic quest, like Frodo or something. I started with the first chapter, like any normal person would. Comer is talking about really figuring out what we want, you know, deep down. He uses this phrase, “seek first the kingdom,” which sounds kinda old-timey but it basically means to put God’s way of doing things first. Sounds simple enough, right?
Comer’s main point is that being a disciple of Jesus means organizing your whole life around three things: being with Jesus, becoming like him, and doing what he did. That sounded like a pretty solid plan to me, so I decided to jump in with both feet.
My Practical Steps
- Being with Jesus: This was the first step, so I thought, okay, how do I “be” with someone who lived 2,000 years ago? I started with prayer. I’m not gonna lie, it felt weird at first. It’s like talking to someone who’s not physically there. But I kept at it, just having these little chats with Jesus throughout my day, telling him what was on my mind.
- Becoming like him: This part was a bit tougher. How do I become like someone who, let’s be honest, was perfect? I started by reading about him in the Gospels. I figured if I was going to be like him, I had to know what he was actually like, you know? I noticed how he was always helping people, even the ones everyone else ignored.
- Doing as he did: Okay, so this is where things got interesting. I started looking for ways to be more like Jesus in my everyday life. I tried to be more patient, which if you know me, is a big deal. I also started volunteering at a local soup kitchen. It was messy, and sometimes I was just tired.
The Results?
It is not easy, honestly, it’s kinda hard. It’s like trying to break old habits and build new ones all at the same time. But I’m starting to see some changes, little things. I’m not yelling at other drivers as much, I am more patient with my kids. And those conversations with Jesus? They’re starting to feel less awkward and more, I don’t know, real. It feels like I’m actually connecting with him, which is pretty wild when you think about it.
So, yeah, that’s where I’m at with this whole “Practicing the Way” journey. It’s a work in progress, for sure. I’m still figuring things out, and I definitely mess up sometimes. But I’m sticking with it because I think there’s something real here, something that’s worth the effort. I’ll keep you guys posted on how it goes. Maybe I’ll even get good at this whole being like Jesus thing. Who knows?