Res Gestae
Books that speak of numbers
(Last of a series)
The third in my new set of collections is Rick Warren’s “The Purpose Driven life”. I was intrigued of its phenomenal success, especially making it as the only book specifically named and recommended for discussion among members of the country’s police force, as part of the requirements in the implementation of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Integrated Transformation Program (ITP).
Before I grabbed my own copy, there were already more than 30 million copies of the book sold worldwide. The introduction of the book speaks of the secret of its success - “This is more than a book; it is a guide to a 40-day spiritual journey that will enable you to discover the answer to life’s most important question: “What on earth am I here for?”
So, we come to the next number – 40.
The book is composed of 40 articles. And the author suggests that is should be read one article or chapter a day. While the book can be considered “unputdownable”, reading it all in one session is highly discouraged. The reason: “so you will have time to think about the implications for your life.”
It is said that “one reason most books don’t transform us is that we are so eager to the next chapter, we don’t pause and take the time to seriously consider that what we have just read. We rush to the next truth without reflecting on what we have learned.”
That explains why I am still at Chapter 7 though I have the book since March 14. I don’t only read one chapter a day… I also give myself at least 3 days to ponder on the message of each chapter.
As it is said the book leads one to the journey of discovering the purpose of his or her life. And, while I am still at Chapter 7, I got the overview of the answers through its table of contents. The 40 chapters were divided into six. The first seven chapters deal on the question, “What on earth am I here for?” The next 32 chapters elaborate on the answers to the questions – the purposes of one’s existence.
There are seven chapters focusing on Purpose # 1: You were planned for God’s pleasure. Another seven chapters explain Purpose # 2: You were formed for God’s family. Still, seven chapters talk on Purpose # 3: You were created to become like Christ. And also seven chapters lead to the understanding of Purpose # 4: You were shaped for serving God. And, the last five chapters explicate Purpose # 5: You were made for a mission.
As of this writing, I am about to start with the first of seven chapters under Purpose # 1. And, at this stage, realizations are flooding my thought. At times, revelations of these nuggets of this wisdom tempted me to back off. They were simply overwhelming that I fear to go on… Maybe it is so because oftentimes our greatest fear is nowhere else but within ourselves.