Grinning ear to ear and sporting his self-proclaimed “party” socks, author Bob Goff greeted Lipscomb students on Monday evening in Swang 108.
“Not only is he a kid at heart, he’s also a kid in real life who just happens to have a big kid job as a lawyer,” said an email from Lipscomb’s Student Government Association on Monday morning that encouraged students to attend the event.
Author of the popular Christian novel Love Does, Goff tries to motivate others to discover a secretly incredible life in an ordinary world by living passionately.
“When I think of passion it’s like, well we all know what it’s felt like to touch knees with somebody that you liked a lot,” Goff said.
Goff said a purpose-filled life includes stepping out of one’s comfort zone and loving others unconditionally.
“If you don’t understand cowboys, go to Texas,” he said. “I used to not understand vegetarians. I was like, ‘have none of you had a burger?’ But once you get to know them, they’re great.”
Several students recently read Love Does and said they found encouragement in listening to Goff’s presentation.
“Being able to see him in person makes the words that we read in his book feel a lot more sincere,” junior Brooke Gordon said. “Knowing that he actually lives the way that he writes is really awesome to see.”
After hearing Goff in person, sophomore Kinzie Icayan said she is convinced that it’s possible to live a life on the edge for God.
“I thought maybe that those were the six times he’d done something, but he explained so many other situations that weren’t in the book,” she said. “And those were book-worthy, too.”
At the end of the evening, students gathered around Goff to lay hands on him in prayer. From the center of the circle, Goff enthusiastically thanked the group.
“Just love people,” he said. “You don’t have to call it a mission trip anymore. Love already has a name; it’s just you.”
After the prayer, Goff stayed to sign a signature message in books, on water bottles and on several students’ arms: “Love God, do stuff.”