Mere Christianity

I love this book. One of my all-time favorites, and the book I turn to when Christianity seems to become too academic and threatens to set my head spinning. Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis, is, in my opinion, one of the greatest books written about the Christian faith.

Lewis doesn't set out to uncover new pages in faith, or to say outrageous things that will inspire some and enrage others. Lewis simply lays out why he believes Christianity makes sense and how a Christian should behave. He points out the traps along the way and the obstacles, namely ourselves, that we must overcome in order to be faithful Christians. He never claims moral or intellectual superiority, instead simply offering his opinion and suggesting that the reader subscribe to it if it is helpful, but otherwise, to drop it in favor of something better. Lewis writes humbly, beautifully, brilliantly, and has managed to craft a work that I keep coming back to; it reminds me of how simple and beautiful, yet how demanding and complete, faith in God should be.

Thursday

Gracious Lord,
You are my everything. From the time I wake to when I sleep at night, your grace sustains me. Even while I slumber, it is you and you alone that keep me. Grant me the wisdom to recognize this, and to sing out my praises to you. You are God, from before my birth until time has passed away, and I pray that each word I speak, each thought that passes through my mind, will bring honor and glory to you. I love you with all my sinful heart, and pray that you will wash me clean yet again, create in me anew, so that I can be the child you have planned me to be, praising and glorifying you with each and every moment of my days.
I love you.
Amen.

Wednesday

O Lord,
When I do not have the strength to stand, grant me the wisdom to kneel before your holy throne. Every resource I will ever need I can find in you. Teach me to be wise and humble, kind and gentle, ferocious and passionate in your service. I have been made by your hand, guided by your Spirit; now may I go into the world filled with your wisdom and love, pouring myself out so that I may be filled by you. May my each and every word bring glory to your holy and eternal name.
Amen

Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy

I've been reading for a class I'm taking in July. The latest assignment was Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, by Gary Schmidt.

It's beautifully written. The language makes it hard to turn the pages, for I so enjoyed the way the sea breeze was personified, the way metaphors and similes turned a simple sentence into a sweet dessert. Each story is well-crafted, and Schmidt must have turned the words over in his mind before allowing them to spill out onto the paper, where they would be carefully arranged to suit the task.

As for the story, it's heartbreaking. It's the story of a minister's boy, Turner, who is moved to Maine with his parents only to discover everything is different there, including himself. In his efforts to find peace, he stumbles across a girl from a local island, an African American girl who is fascinating to him, only unwelcome to everyone else because of the color of his skin.

Turner is caught in the middle of a battle far bigger than himself as the town residents want to relocate the Africa-American residents and claim their land for a resort hotel. Turner believes this is wrong, but has little influence over the town, or even his own father. This is a story of relationships, of sorrow, of hope and of community. It is a short read, but do not make the mistake I did of assuming it would be easy. It speaks to the soul, calls us to question who we are, the company we keep, and where we will stand when the time comes for us to stand up for what is right rather than what is popular. This novel may break your heart, but it will also urge you to make sure you have all the pieces before you put it back together.