Wow.

Some friends had recommended Francis Chan’s Crazy Love when it came out, and I kept hearing about it over and over and over.  A close friend recently said, “Tara, READ this book!”  With some gift card fundage I received for Mother’s Day, I finally picked it up.  I am so glad that I did.

This book is like the most pleasant whollop up-side the head.

The writing is clear and accessible, direct and wonderfully to-the-point.  Do not mistake me – I am in no way saying this book is better than or in place of God’s Word.  The author, instead, is using the book to expand upon what God’s Word is saying and how we should really be living it – this crazy love that Christ has for us and loving Him back as extravagently as we humans can.  

So what does that look like?  Mr. Chan addresses this so well and I cannot wait to blog about some of these things as my brain keeps chewing on these ideas and how to really live it rather than just reading about it and moving on.   

For the introduction and the beginning of each chapter, the author sends the reader to the website www.crazylovebook.com to watch short one or two minute videos of himself introducing that chapter.  I asked friends who had read the book if this was worth doing because I am not about gimmicks or wasting my time on redundancy, but they insisted it was worth it and indeed it was.

One of the very first videos is one that I just cannot get out of my head, and I hope I never do.  Mr. Chan was sitting on a beach and he wrote “G-o-d” in the sand.  He asked the viewer to look at that word and think for a moment – what is the first thing that came to mind when you see the word, the Name, “God.”  

Hmmm.  

So?  What was the first thing that came to mind?

Is He someone who is fairly far-removed from you?  Yea, sure, He created things and has a Son named Jesus, but you want to keep Him at arm’s length right now.  Too much livin’ to do.

Is He an amazing God to you and yes, you know that and can recite it backwards and forwards but do you feel it with every fiber of your being?

When you see His Name, do you see Him as someone who while you do try to give him part of your day, part of your week, but really you have to schedule Him…and you want so much more…but how??

Or when you see “God” does your heart just leap for joy?  Does your soul go silent in awe and worship as you consider really and truly everything He has done from creating the tiniest flower to the most magnificent galaxy to the most rapturous symphony of sound and everything in between?

I have really had to think about that.   What comes to my mind?  

What I know is that I want to be so in love with Him that when I hear His Name, I want to fall to my knees in awe and wonder, with all that He has done and the wonders of His creation just flooding my mind.  I want all the worries of this world to disappear at the mere mention of His Name, a sweet smile of true love on my face.

I want to be crazy in love with Him.  He’s already crazy in love with me.