Mark Batterson is one of my daily blog reads and pastor of a dynamic young adult friendly multiple site “mega-church” in Washington, DC that houses their services in movie theaters and a coffee shop…  And he ruined my December beach vacation to Florida.

While on vacation, I made the mistake of reading an advance copy of his third book Primal that his publishers had graciously sent to me in hopes of a blog posting.

In the book, Batterson works through Mark 12:30 which is Jesus’ response to “”Which is the first of all the commandments?”  The first, or primal, commandment is You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.  I had entered the vacation weary and tired from a busy year of “doing ministry” towards attempting to give my all towards loving God. I was weary with the uncertainty that my efforts were enough.

Throughout the book, Batterson examines  his understanding of the primal elements needed to love God with your all: compassion, wonder, curiosity, and energy. Our challenge becomes, not to love the ways we have chosen to manage our relationship with God but, to love God.  It is not our words, our actions, our vocation and ministry that makes a difference in our loves or our world, but it is God’s grace that is enough. If we can seek, discover, and attempt to reflect that grace with compassion, wonder, curiosity, and energy, then we might be flirting with fulfilling Jesus’ primal commandment.

It’s a great book – a good and easy read – but don’t take it on vacation with you unless you are open to a vacation becoming a spiritual renewal.