Mama Maggie

I attended the Willow Creek Leadership summit simulcast at Christ Memorial this past week. There are a number of contemplations rolling through my brain, but for right now, I'll concentrate on Mama Maggie.

I am struck first by the countenance of Mama Maggie. She is a woman who looks peaceful and content--she actually looks holy to me.

Mama Maggie gave up a cultured, elegant life to work with the children and people who live in literal garbage dumps in India. Children sleep in the garbage. They eat the garbage. . .

When she spoke about this choice, she spoke in a humble, unassuming way. Yet her first words, about the first thing to do, which is sell everything are powerful to me. I understand that not all of us are called to this extreme, yet part of me wonders, is that really true? This is after all what Christ asks of us when He says, follow me. . .

Some of my favorite bits from her talk:

• If you want to be a hero, do what God wants you to do
• Forgiveness is not between you and the other, it's between you and God . . He holds the account

and my favorite bit, about silence - she says "silence is the step to getting all the treasures . . . it is there we experience eternity". This is what she said:

1. Silence your body to listen to your words
2. Silence your tongue to listen to your thoughts
3. Silence your thoughts to list to your heart beating
4. Silence your heart to listen to your spirit
5. Silence your spirit to listen to HIS Spirit
6. You silence all to listen to the One.

This seems beautiful and desirable to me - but how to get there?

I think you must have to sell everything, including your husband and children if you have them. How else can you even get to silence?

As I was trying to have a little time of contemplation to write down these thoughts my husband (and I don't even have children at home anymore) kept bothering me - where are my shorts, what about that plant, etc. Right now I feel about as far from hearing God's Spirit as I can be, and I know there is no way I'm looking holy. . .

To support Mama Maggie's work, please visit the Stephen's Children site.

The Story Above All Stories

King's Cross by Timothy Keller

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I cannot recommend "King's Cross" highly enough. There were so many parts that spoke to me, that brought me to new awareness of the gift of Jesus to the World.

How can it be that we have lost the urgency, the joy, the passion that is the real and true story of Jesus. Like C.S. Lewis, Timothy Keller opens my brain to new pathways of understanding of just how significant the death of Jesus on the cross is.

I know this seems weird to say. I'm a Christian - one would think I'm feeling this all the time. But, I'm not. Honestly, sometimes I think I am more worried about hurting a person's feelings, or offending a person by sharing the story of Jesus. Keller explains gospel means "news that brings great joy"--why in the world wouldn't I be eager to share that with someone?

How have we lost that? How have we let the world convince us that sharing Jesus' news of great joy is not a good thing?

I'd like to entice you with excerpts, but I practically have to quote the whole book! I'll give you some pictures of the essence.

In Chapter 1, we learn that the Trinity (the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit) are

"each centering on the others, adoring and serving them . . . this makes God infinitely, profoundly happy . . . if it's true that this world has been created by the Triune God, then ultimate reality is a dance . . . if this world was made by a Triune God, relationships of love are what life is really about . . . He must have created us not to get joy, but to give it".

The author then goes on to the story of Jesus temptation in the wilderness. He explains the wilderness is a battleground, and Satan is wanting to tempt us away from the dance. Using the story of Adam, Keller explains that God said to Adam:

"because you love me, don't eat from the tree--just because I say so. . . Obey me about the tree and you will live".

We know that Adam didn't live up to his end of the bargain.

Now Satan goes to Jesus in the wilderness - Satan comes to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane:

"the ultimate antigarden to the Garden of Eden. . .God said to Jesus, 'Obey me about the tree',--only this time the tree was a cross--and you will die. And Jesus did. He has gone before you into the heart of a very real battle to draw you into the ultimate reality of the dance. What He has enjoyed from all eternity, he has come to offer to you".

In the afterward of the book, Keller tells us that:

"Steven Spielberg was refused any Oscars until he stopped making movies with only happy endings, yet his fairy tale-ending movies are his most popular. . . critics observe this and scowl that, of course, "escapist" stories will always be popular".

He (Keller) goes on to say that Tolkien argues:

"people sense that such stories point to some underlying Reality. As we read or watch them, we are being told that the world is certainly filled with danger . . . nonetheless there is a meaning to things, there is a difference between good and evil, and above all there will be a final defeat of evil . . .the gospel story of Jesus is the underlying Reality to which all the stories point. . . it is the true story; it happened".

Keller also shares the words of theologian Robert W. Jensen:

"our culture is in crisis because the modern world has lost it's story. We once thought that life had a purpose, that there was something to live for, and that there was hope for a resolution to the sufferings of the world. Now, many say, none of these things are true".

What a sad statement.

If ever there was a time for sharing "news of great joy", it is now, don't you think? I'm a Christian. I have the antidote. Guess what, the antidote is a story. I love stories, and this one is true. I need to be as eager to share this story as I am to share the stories of the novels I read.

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Poppies = Imagination

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I ran across this book in my favorite place to prowl in the library - the advance review section. I checked it out on Goodreads when I got home and saw that it had an average of four stars plus, and it totally lived up to that. I was engaged in the story from beginning to end, and keep going back to re-read bits of it.

Victoria has been shuttled to numerous foster homes. She has put up a tough and defiant exterior to protect her heart from the rejection that she knows will eventually come her way. I think the author got this character exactly right. Don't you think it's true that when hearts are hurt people put up all kinds of barriers to protect themselves? Along the way though, Victoria meets two somebodies that love her, and as always, real love, can break down those crusty exteriors. It doesn't happen overnight though, it takes time. This bit is also true to life, don't you think? It's only consistent and constant love and grace that can break down those walls.

Victoria learned about the language of flowers on her journey to wholeness. I loved learning the meanings of flowers, and how they were used in communication in Victorian times, and how they could be used in the same way today. People are always looking for a little magic in their lives, and Victoria's meaningful bouquets provide just what they are looking for.

There are several bits in the story where flowers are used for conversations, and I thought that was charming, although sometimes the message of the flowers themselves were actually quite difficult.

I liked how the people Victoria met took the chance of encouraging and helping her. They also showed love where none was expected, and didn't give up on Victoria.

I can't tell you more without ruining the story--give yourself a treat and add this to your booklist.

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War and Life Choices

Gifts of War by Mackenzie Ford

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gifts of War begins with the World War I 1914 Christmas Truce (widespread unofficial ceasefires that took place along the Western Front around Christmas of 1914). I did not know this was a true fact until I googled it after finishing the book.
Wilhelm (German) and Hal (British) meet during the truce and have a conversation. In the course of the conversation, Hal makes a promise to Wilhelm, one he does not keep. This failed promise embarks him on a life of deceit. A life he willfully chooses. Here's the thing, Hal is not a bad man. He could be you, or me. The questions he asks as he makes his choices, could be questions you or I ask ourselves. Once you take that first small step of deceit, it is easy to take the next one, or two, or three. It is very rare that deceit does not catch up with us in some way, and this proves true for Hal.

There are so many other nuances in the book. Think how strange, and how amazing, for soldiers fighting to the death to stop, decorate their trenches, sing songs together and share gifts. They made plans to bury their dead during the cease fire. And then, in one or two days, to begin killing each other again.

What about spying for your country? This could entail literally sleeping with the enemy, killing acquaintances and the like. Basically, it is living a life of approved deceit. Deceit with honor. That's a misnomer if I ever heard one.

What about hating someone, just because they are German, or British,or Dutch, or Hispanic - and then, endeavoring, when war is over, to start over again in peace. Surely at that time, it is just a word, what about real peace? How does one attain it, that peace of Shalom (living harmoniously), after a war time experience.

These are some of the questions you'll ponder as you consider lives impacted by war, both in the past and the present.

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An Intense Read

Room by Emma Donoghue

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was not excited to read this book,it sounded creepy to me. And, I have to say, it is a little creepy, but, it also held my attention throughout. So why did I read it? Book club. Sometimes you are forced to read things that you don't really want to, and, it usually ends up all right. I can't say that I enjoyed the book, but I was totally immersed, and have gone back to read parts several times.

If you think you're going to read this book, you may not want to read past this sentence . . .

The title makes so much sense once you've read the story.

"Room" is Jake's world. It is all he knows. To him, room is real, and everything else is not real. Jake is not just smart, he's precocious. He's also incredibly naive. He lives in this small room, with a few stories, and a pattern to every day. Objects are named and become his friends. He loves his mom, he loves room, he loves his routines. He questions. His brain begins to be stretched. He learns there is a real world, this isn't all there is. This scares him. His mom asks him to perform a daring deed. He does, and their whole life changes.

For his mom, the change is mostly great, but for Jake, not so much. Everything he loves, everything that is familiar, is gone. He wants it back. This is hard for his mom, and for him--for so long they were just the two of them, and they mostly agreed on everything. Now the world is bigger, and has to expand to include other people.

I am glad for learning about the new life - I liked Steppa, and I felt Jake's awkwardness, and his mom's exhilaration with freedom, and frustration with Jake's slowness to embrace the freedom were expressed well. I thought the reaction of his mom's parents were real and believable.

The one thing I struggle with a bit is the fact that Jake is just five. I'm not sure a five year old would really have been able to perform such a daring deed.

On the copyright page, it says that the book is totally fictional, and I believe this to be true, except . . . today, I watched the Jaycee Dugard interview with Diane Sawyer. I have to wonder if the author's imagination was sparked by this true story of a young girl who was abducted, raped, imprisoned in a soundproof room, and gave birth to 2 children during her 18 year imprisonment. Having just finished "Room", and then watching the interview, there are some real similarities. Certainly both the interview and the book teach us that evil is real and in the world. After watching the Jaycee interview, I think we all need to be more diligent about caring for our neighbors, and being brave enough, and taking the risk to report, where we believe there may be wrong doing. I think sometimes we feel embarrassed, after all, what if we're wrong. Perhaps, we should be asking ourselves more often, what if we're right?

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A "Can't Put It Down" Book

Harvesting the Heart by Jodi Picoult

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I like Jodi Picoult's books, but this one I just could not put down. I started it on Thursday night, and stayed up way past my bedtime, reluctantly putting it away as I had to get up and go to work on Friday.

Friday night did my chores as quick as I could, anticipating the time I could sit down and finish it!

Paige's mom ran away when she was 5 years old. Paige ran away when she was 18. She's been in love twice, and now she has a baby of her own. Exhausted from caring for her infant while her cardiologist husband puts in long hours at work, she finds that she's losing herself. How can she find herself again, reconcile her past, and reconcile her old self with her new self and her role as mother? How can her heart heal so that she is whole again?

I loved Paige and her questionings, her naivety, and her honesty. I loved that she was an artist, and her special gift that made her art unique. I loved how she loved her dad--actually, how they loved each other.

It's always curious to me how some books pull you in, and others not so much. This one definitely had my undivided attention!

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Hope for Prodigals

Out of a Far Country: A Gay Son's Journey to God. A Broken Mother's Search for Hope. by Christopher Yuan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thank you to Waterbrook Multnomah for my free copy of "Out of a Far Country".

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but found it to be interesting, informative, sad, and hopeful.

The book is actually two stories in one. The mother's journey to Christ, healed marriage and unconditional love, and the son's journey from rebellion into a relationship with Christ, and healing and reconciliation with his own family.

I honestly don't know if I as a mother could have exhibited the grace that Christopher's mother exhibited towards him. His lifestyle of same sex relationships, drugs, and journey to self destruction would be enough to kill any hope one might have for reconciliation and wholeness. Chris was blind to the risks involved in his choices--it is actually surprising that he's still alive today. It is amazing to see how God uses our brokenness to bring us back to Him. Thank goodness He does.

One thing that was missing for me. Christopher has a brother Steven. Although Steven is mentioned early in the book,we don't get to hear what happened with Steven once his parents and brother became Christians.

I also liked Christopher's reasoning of Holy Sexuality. How many of us don't use sex, whether heterosexual or homosexual, as a replacement for living a holy life for God. Or, take away sex, just any covetousness, or idol, to fill our emptiness other than God.

To learn about Christopher Yuan's ministry, you can visit his website christopheryuan.com.

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