I’ve just finished Bill Hybels’ Holy Discontent. I’ve already shared some of my thoughts in my post on One Thing Passion, but wanted to add a couple more to complete my review on the book.

This is a great, fairly quick read of a book that can bring great perspective of how to fuel the passion that God has given us. I think this a book everybody might benefit from, but it will benefit especially those who are passionate people who don’t always know what to do with their passions or how to develop them in a constructive and God and others’ honoring way.

I’ll note one more highlight of the book. Hybel’s references Robert Quinn’s book Building the Bridge as you Walk on It (2004) and a theory that Quinn calls the “fundamental state” theory. He essentially is saying that “when a person is gripped by a powerful passion, he or she literally enters into a completely different state of mind; in face, they shift mental gears altogether and begin operating on an entirely new level.” (pg. 117) This is in contrast to the “normal state” in which one is primarily self-absorbed and reacting to life rather than proactively living it according to one’s values and convictions.

He includes the following poem (pg. 118):

Accepting the world as it is.
Denying our ability to see something better.
Denying our ability to be something better.

This is life in the normal state.

So much of the book is geared towards connecting one’s unique passions for God’s justice and redemptive work in this world with real needs and opportunities for service and loving action.

We all need help fueling our fire to redemptive action and sustaining both hope and passion. This book is a great resource for me to both nurture real hope as well as a powerful passion to partner with God to set things right in this world.

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