by Emily Snell | Jan 20, 2012 | News Slider
Donald Miller, Christian author and speaker, gave students his “rules to living a meaningful life” in The Gathering on Thursday. “The things it takes to live a good story are the same things it takes to live an interesting life,” Miller said, explaining that he learned a lot about storytelling while working with experts to produce the movie version of his book Blue Like Jazz, which will appear in theaters April 13. Miller said people have the ability to choose to live an interesting, enjoyable life or a boring, meaningless one. “The things that we’re doing with our lives actually shape whether or not we appreciate it,” he said. According to Miller, the first step toward living an interesting life is “you need to want something.” Miller said the reason people get bored during movies is the same reason they feel that life is meaningless–it’s unclear what the protagonist wants. “If I paused your life right now,” Miller asked, “and came to your closest friends and asked, ‘Ok, what do they want?’ Would anybody know?” Miller said he thinks people believe they have to want only God’s specific plan for their lives. But, Miller said he believes God doesn’t always have a detailed plan but allows people to choose what they do with their lives. He said too many people view God as “a dysfunctional dad who is controlling.” “I just see this picture of God as a dad, and He rolls out this big piece of butcher paper on the floor and He gives you a box of crayons,” Miller said, sharing his perspective. “And you and God get to...
