Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World

Goff tells the story of falling in love with his wife, Maria, and uses it as an allegory to illustrate how Jesus pursues individuals with a relentless, whimsical love. He recounts his immediate attraction to Maria, his grand, often eccentric, attempts to impress her.

Goff’s presents his determination as an allegory for God’s pursuit of humanity. He contrasts the traditional view of Jesus as using a punishment/reward system to motivate humans with his experience of Jesus pursuing him in love, much like his courtship of Maria. He explores the idea that the pursuit of love, and life, is not always straightforward or dignified, but it is always persistent and deeply intentional. This pursuit, he believes, is characterized by creativity, passion, and the willingness to overcome obstacles, culminating in the transformative affirmation of love—both human and divine. Goff presents his story as a testament to the power of persistence and the belief that love does indeed take active, sometimes whimsical forms.

Goff recounts a story his budget-conscious wedding, focusing on an incident with their wedding cake. He and Maria sourced a cake on their tight budget but it collapsed in the parking lot before reaching the reception. They pieced it back together and served it, including the gravel and dirt. Goff uses this as a metaphor for his life and spiritual journey, relating it to Jesus's message that people are special not in spite of their flaws, but because of them. Goff argues that Jesus calls not for perfection but participation, inviting people to move from being passive believers to active participants in their faith, no matter their condition.

Goff recounts a practical joke to illustrate is belief that God's call doesn't require one to be extraordinary; one simply needs to be willing. Goff plays a joke on his friend Doug, impersonating him to enjoy an extravagant hotel room that Doug had booked. When Goff receives an unexpected call from the ambassador of Uganda, he assumes this to be a retaliatory prank by Doug. Despite doubts, Goff consistently says “yes” to the unexpected requests of the caller, which lead him on a surprising journey to New York. There, he discovers the offer is genuine, and he is asked to become an honorary consul for Uganda. Goff accepts a role he had never anticipated and uses this to exemplify the importance of embracing opportunities, even those that seem implausible, as part of a divine adventure. Goff’s message is that saying “yes” can lead to unexpected roles in God's plan to save and improve lives, reflecting biblical narratives where God chooses unlikely individuals to fulfill his purposes.

Goff presents a life lesson using his children's ambitious project following the September 11th, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, New York. He asked his children what they would ask world leaders to understand life and current affairs better. Goff found the responses were heartwarming: Adam wanted to invite world leaders home, Richard sought to know their hopes, and Lindsey proposed interviewing them to share their aspirations. Goff's children wrote to every world leader, and to their surprise, received 29 invitations. This led to the family having an interesting international journey where they engaged in conversations with various heads of state, sharing meals and personal stories and forming authentic connections.

Goff uses this story to communicate the message that Jesus uses ordinary people to achieve good works, not just those perceived as significant or influential. Goff emphasizes his belief that grand achievements and making an impact don't require fame or power—just a willingness to step forward and engage. The power of innocence and the impact of genuine, agenda-free relationships is highlighted, reinforcing the idea that love is an action; Goff asserts that it often starts with a simple “yes.”

A story of whimsical gate-crashing is recounted to illustrate Goff’s belief that individuals are already invited into life’s greatest moments. He recounts sneaking onto the film set of National Treasure 2 at the Library of Congress, following the film’s stars without getting caught. The thrill of the adventure lead Goff to reflect on the idea of inclusion and invitation. He connects this adventure to the experience of his family hiding Easter eggs outside the White House during the official Easter egg hunt they weren’t invited to, which Goff intended to make his children feel that they were part of something important. He extends this as a metaphor to life, emphasizing his belief that every day God invites people to fully engage with life. Goff points to the sunrise, the chirping birds, and the aroma of morning coffee as symbols of this daily invitation.

Goff draws a parallel with the biblical “Parable of the Great Banquet” (Matthew 22:1-14 and Luke 14:15-24), in which a rich man invites the poor off the street to attend his feast, after those he invited don’t attend. Goff suggests that, like the banquet, there is always room in life for one to join in, regardless of wealth or power, and one is continuously invited to the table by Jesus. Goff asserts that this is an invitation to move from observation to active participation, from opinions to actions, and from being spectators to being part of the game. Goff concludes by saying that Jesus is sending out an invitation to everyone, whispering, “There’s more room” (83), signaling inclusion and welcome.