Centered {Review}

Former NFL lineman Jason Brown quickly turned heads when in 2012 he walked away from his career to become a farmer... yes, a farmer!  Then twenty-seven year old Brown seemed to have it all... a beautiful wife, a young family, and a contract with the Baltimore Ravens that provided a lavish lifestyle.  

But Brown says it was all an illusion as he found himself drifting further and further from the truth.  Until one day he heard the Lord and decided to walk away.  Hesitant to tell his wife, but desperate to save their future, he finally confesses what he's heard and the two embark on the crazy adventure of starting a farm to feed the hungry.  And not just feed the hungry, but donate everything they raise to North Carolina food banks.  

This is an honest account of Brown's growing up years, his commitment to Christ, and his conviction to risk it all when he hears from the Lord.  Not only is it Brown's story, but it is his testimony... a legacy of vision, humility, and faith.  He admits that through a series of financial misfortunes, he and his wife still struggle to keep the farm afloat, but even in their most challenging moments, they fix their eyes on the Lord and wait for his working.  Centered takes the reader not only through the timeline of the Browns story, but often times Jason Brown's voice is heard clearly... recounting the many miracles he's experienced through both the best and worst moments of this journey.  He can't seem to help himself as he moves in and out of sharing how great God is in both his life and the world.  His resounding theme seems to be "God is sooo good."

This book was honestly more than I expected.  I went into it thinking it would be focused on how football was his life... how this was a 180 from where he was headed... and in someways, I suppose that's all still true.  But Centered is more than that.  It's the story of a man who was willing to "walk away from it all" only to find that he was walking into the most precious gift from the giver of good things.  Challenging, heartwarming, and convicting... all rolled into one.  If you have a sports lover in your life... or are just curious why someone would walk away from a lucrative career in the NFL, this book just might be what you're looking for.

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.