Take Note of The Noticer

Sometimes, the thing we need most in life is a fresh perspective.

Andy Andrews' most recent work, The Noticer, transports the reader to Orange Beach, Alabama where he will meet a variety of people, most notably, a drifter by the name of Jones.  His mission in life according to Jones: "I'm a noticer," he said. "It is my gift. While others may be able to sing well or run fast, I notice things that other people overlook. And, you know, most of them are in plain sight."  

Jones helps the person he encounters look at life through a different lens, one that provides a future much different than the present.  Those who cross paths with Jones never look the condition of their lives in quite the same way.

I can't fully tell you how much I enjoyed The Noticer.  Andrews' story-telling style reminds me of Patrick Lencioni (some high praise in my opinion).  It is a fast and easy read, but it leaves a lingering impact that has rippled through my life since I was first exposed to this story.  Being a pastor, my favorite line in the book happens when Jones visits church and speaks during prayer request time: "I'd like to pray for some smiling faces in this church."  Then in typical fashion, he added, "I think more people would want to go to heaven, if they weren't afraid it'd be like church when they got there."

My prayer is that many of you will read this book, let it challenge you, pass on a copy to those you know, and live out the message of being "a noticer."