The Significant Life by George Weaver

See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; 

Isaiah 49:16

Overcoming the Fear of Being Unnoticed and Forgotten

Jesus criticized those who "do all their deeds to be noticed by men." Yet we do the same thing today. A great deal of our activities are born of this desire for attention and the often desperate fear of not being known, appreciated, influential, or remembered. Christianity meets this need in a resounding way. This book contains a lifetime collection of accounts, illustrations, and biblical material that speak to this subject.

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About the Author: 

George M. Weaver (born 1950) is an attorney in Atlanta, Georgia. He has written numerous Christian and legal materials. His new book is "The Significant Life: Overcoming Your Fear of Being Unnoticed and Forgotten." This book brings a Christian answer to the near-universal need and struggle of people to be known, appreciated, influential, and remembered. His legal materials include a book called "Handbook on the Prosecution of Obscenity Cases." George is married to LeAnne Weaver and they are parents of two children. For more information on "The Significant Life," visit www.significancebook.com.

I received this book from the author and bookfun.org in exchange for my honest opinion.

My Thoughts:
Do you strive to be "known", fear being forgotten, insignificant and not leaving your mark on the world or maybe just in your home or community? Why do so many of us, post frequently on social media, start blogs, donate money so our names can be on a brick, or work hard to leave a legacy? Whether we admit it or not, it may stem from the fear of becoming insignificant... We do not want to be forgotten.

I struggled to get through this book, not because it wasn't good, but because the content is mostly factual (many examples and lists of events, people, accomplishments, etc); and I was not able to intake as much at one time, as with a typical book such as a fiction or non-fiction. There is certainly a lot of information included. For instance, did you know that Robert Shields kept a diary that chronicled every five minutes of his life from 1972 until a stroke disabled him in 1997? It totaled 37.5 million words and filled 94 boxes. He believed discontinuing his diary would be like "turning off my life".  He wrote about his bowel movements, dreams, toe nail clippings.... get the idea?

George, the author,  is a very intelligent man, who has poured his knowledge into this book. He gives many examples of how our society is seeking significance in insignificant ways such as fame, fortune, etc... Many people are looking for their 15 minutes of fame, either by accomplishing something good or by committing and act of evil that will gain attention and recognition. Pretty much all people desire to be "known", when in fact, significance in life is only achieved when we are able to find our identity in Christ who died for us and the God who created us. Success in His eyes looks much different than success in man's eyes. Only in knowing that, and trusting Him can find true satisfaction without all the fear and worry over the future.

This may not be an easy book to read for some, but for those searching for significance, the facts and supporting Scriptures are valuable information in leading a successful life without the pressures society puts on us. Each chapter includes a study guide with questions and food for thought.