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

Goff uses the metaphor of Tom Sawyer Island at Disneyland as a representation of a joyful (what he terms “whimsical”) and imaginative approach to life. He describes this place as his “office,” a space where creativity is unfettered and where he can engage in the art of dreaming and planning grand adventures. Goff describes a sense of ownership over this space as an example of his argument claiming a stake in something––be it a place, an idea, or faith––can transform one from a spectator to an active participant. He draws a parallel between this and faith, suggesting that faith is most alive and effective when it is owned and acted upon.

The introduction is a call to action, urging the reader to move from planning to doing––to embrace the “do” part of faith. Goff emphasizes his belief that love, like whimsy, is to be experienced rather than merely contemplated. Using the accessibility of Tom Sawyer Island as an allegory, he argues that there are no barriers to entry for living a life full of love and adventure––in his view, it is available to all, regardless of one's background.