July 12, 2006 @ 3:04 pm | Filed under: Current Affairs

"An aim in life is the only fortune worth the finding; and it is not to be found in foreign lands, but in the heart itself." — Robert Louis Stevenson

In 1986 I read a book that moved me. The kind of book that inspires from page one, that grabs hold of you, heart and soul and, when the last paragraph is read, you reluctantly close the book, breathe deeply, and investigate the emotions it created inside of you.

Peter Jenkins, author of A Walk Across America and The Walk West, did that for me. As a high school senior, I was on the cusp of something intangible, yet exciting, and felt like the world was mine for the taking. Reading Peter’s journals about his trek across America and the kaleidoscope of people and cultures he not only encountered, but immersed himself in, made my heart beat just a tad bit faster.

People who take big bites out of life and then relish the flavors of their discoveries continue to inspire me. I love the fact that there are still folks in the world who truly care about humanity and its condition and aren’t afraid to step outside the box of what is normal or expected and dare to leave an imprint that will be read about and marveled over for weeks or months or years to come.

Which brings me to the one red paperclip. On July 12, 2005, Kyle MacDonald wrote the following post on a brand new blog:

This might not surprise you, but below is a picture of a paperclip. It is red. This red paperclip is currently sitting on my desk next to my computer. I want to trade this paperclip with you for something bigger or better, maybe a pen, a spoon, or perhaps a boot.

If you promise to make the trade I will come and visit you, wherever you are, to trade. So, if you have something bigger or better than a red paperclip to trade, email me with the details at oneredpaperclip@gmail.com Hope to trade with you soon!

PS I’m going to make a continuous chain of ‘up trades’ until I get a house. Or an Island. Or a house on an island. You get the idea.

Well, today - July 12, 2006 - exactly one year later, Kyle MacDonald will trade with the town of Kipling Saskatchewan for a recently renovated, historic, 1100 square foot house on Main St.

Remember, he started with one red paperclip. And now he has a house.

But the real tale, and the part that inspires me, is the journey of the past 365 days. His quest led him to people he’d ordinarily never come across, it gave him entry into segments of society and culture that traditionally house walls of protection, and it illuminated the very spirit of what I love about humanity - the capacity to reach out and make connections.

To extend yourself to others without fear - or maybe in spite of the fear - and begin to generate a current of good faith and generosity that, in turn, creates a trickle-down effect, must be rewarding. Life-changing even.

Just think. If one man can take one red paperclip and the zany notion that he could begin a bartering process that would ultimately reap him a house, then how much more can one Christian do?

One Christian, one Truth, and the not-so-zany notion that we can, indeed, take the whole gospel to the whole world.