Here Goes Nothing
An Introvert's Reckless Attempt to Love Her Neighbor
- Christian Living
- Publisher: W Publishing Group (Thomas Nelson)
- Published: 2017
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Publisher's Description
What happens when you ask God, “What do you want me to do today?” This is not a success story. And it’s not one of those stories that has a beginning, a middle, and then a perfectly tidy hind end either. It’s really just a beginning. For thirty days Kendra Broekhuis prayed “to maintain the joy of being wife and mommy amid the daily grind. To see the world through God’s eyes. To live intentionally. To build relationships and share Christ’s love with our neighbors. To learn what it really means to give. To collide ‘motherhood’ with ‘mission.’” This became her motto, her credo, her personal mission statement. Some days it led to actions the Lord gently nudged her to take. Other days it led to reflections the Lord gently whispered into her heart. Every day it led to a single word, one underlying theme that ties all thirty days – all thirty chapters – and their wide variety of topics together: giving. These thirty days found Kendra and her husband and daughter in a strange time of transition. They had just moved back to the United States after teaching for three years in the beautiful country of Guatemala. They were in a new city, working a new job, living in a new apartment building, in search of a new church. And they wanted to put it all together: all of their experiences, all of the things they had just seen and learned and read and discussed. It wasn’t a clean slate but rather a chance to live intentionally. When Kendra and her husband sought advice about the transition from fellow missionary friends, the advice was, “Get to know your neighbors.” It might sound like strange advice, but it made sense. Jesus tells us to “Love God and love your neighbor.” Many times the word neighbor is meant to be vague, but it shouldn’t always be. Part of being mission-minded, no matter where you live or work, is being willing to love the people closest to you, people we often overlook. Kendra’s neighbors—as in the people who live in the other eleven apartments in her building—are whom she often found the Lord’s generosity overflowing to and from during these thirty days.
Endorsements (10)
“Kendra writes from the heart about her hilarious attempts to reach out to her neighbors. If you’re an introvert like me, you’ll appreciate the cringe factor, but also the longing for a world where we are more deeply connected to one another. Truly subversive.”
“Richly combining Scripture and sarcasm, Kendra Broekhuis’s adventures in neighboring could be read for pure entertainment value—you will be delighted with her witty perspectives on parenting, walking with God, and relationships with Other People. But I must warn you that you can’t read Here Goes Nothing without being poked and prodded and deeply convicted of your calling to love your neighbor, even if you’re ‘80 percent more comfortable sustaining eye contact while wearing sunglasses.’ Introverts like Kendra and even extroverts like me will turn each page with a new appreciation for God’s design of our unique personality for His glory, in our homes with the neighbors who surround us.”
“Kendra puts legs on the gospel and gets us out into our neighborhoods. She doesn’t just tell us to be good neighbors; she shows us how, modeling a kind of loving that turns cupcakes into conversations. She also made me gut-laugh multiple times, which earns her some crazy respect. After reading this, I want to bust into her introverted world and make her be my friend. She sees spiritual nuggets in everything from apple crisp to maxi pads, and I love her for it.”
“Ordinary obedience to Jesus isn’t glamorous, and it isn’t a formula, which is why I so appreciate Kendra Broekhuis’s message in Here Goes Nothing. Too often, we want something to show for our efforts—a shiny takeaway, or a tidy triumph—which can leave us feeling defeated and alone. Addressing this disconnect, Kendra depicts a more honest picture of faith. Detailing her shortcomings and the lessons born out of them, she invites us into her thirty-day journey of intentional discipleship. Her daily meditations are full of meat but easy to digest, leading readers deeper without weighing them down. This book is ‘not a success story,’ but it is an encouragement and a helpful guide.”
“If you are an introvert—no, wait—if you are a person who wants to love your neighbor because Jesus commanded you to but gets overwhelmed at the idea, please read this book. Kendra Broekhuis has given us a gift in Here Goes Nothing: An Introvert’s Reckless Attempt to Love Her Neighbor. It is relatable, hilarious, honest, and inspiring all at once. I feel both understood as an introvert who treasures people but doesn’t always want to be with them and challenged to push through my own awkward to actively love anyway. In a world where we are increasingly disconnected, this book pushes us toward our ‘neighbor’ in beautiful ways.”
“Wise and funny, Kendra takes you along for the ride on her adventure to love her neighbors. Full of encouragement and practical information, Here Goes Nothing is a perfect guide for introverts and extroverts alike.”
“Kendra Broekhuis’s Here Goes Nothing: An Introvert’s Reckless Attempt to Love Her Neighbor is one of those rare reads that has you nodding your head and smiling throughout. From her description of the Baby Buffer to her #SarcasmFont, I recognized my mom-self on page after page. Kendra is that friendly mom who leaves you feeling happier than when she found you, while she quietly displays Christ’s love to all she meets. She left me asking myself, ‘How can I be the light of Christ in my everyday?”
“Here Goes Nothing equips introverts like me to love the world that God loves. That’s a big win, right? It also gives extroverts a rare glimpse into our curious inner workings. With humor, insight, and courage, Kendra Broekhuis helps us all be the people we were created to be.”
“I love the way Kendra Broekhuis creatively intertwines motherhood with mission! Through her honest and delightful way of looking at life, she offers us a positive way to live every day. Here Goes Nothing is filled with inspirational stories and personal reminders of how we can open our eyes to the ordinary and see God working in the midst of our daily circumstances.”
“I love this book and its authentic approach. Kendra Broekhuis takes us inside the mind of the introverted Christ follower as she learns to engage the people who live right outside her front door. Her self-deprecating humor makes Here Goes Nothing easy and fun to read. Kendra reminds us all that taking the first small step is the key to experiencing change. This is a must-read for anyone who desires to make a difference in their community.”
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