True Divergence

I'm in the middle of reading the Divergent Trilogy. 

The first book I couldn't get to the end fast enough. 

The middle one? Too much drama, lies, and relationship weirdness. It felt like the story waffled more than necessary.

The last one? I certainly am not dropping all of life just so I can read it - as I did with the first one. It feels like the author is in "wrap up loose ends" mode and "how many plot twists can we possibly toss in here?" I'm getting bored with it. 

Overall, the books feel dark and brooding. Gray, joyless, something bad is coming just around the corner, gotta grab a passionate kiss in the meantime so you don't get too far down - kinda feeling. 

There are interesting points that relate to the current political landscape. There are even references to our government history in the book and opinions from the characters point of view. I find those things funny. When a fictional character can directly make an opinion regarding my country's state of government and be mostly accurate... you can't help but be amused. 

While they are interesting, I don't share the conspiracy theory-type views that seem to be flowing just under the surface. Conspiracy theory and the related fear/suspicion only takes over a person who believes that no one but themselves is in control of their environment. A good God who orchestrates all things - even bad stuff - for His ultimate good plan denies the fear that conspiracy holds over your head. 

Then there are the obvious stereotypes of the Erudite, Dauntless, Amity, Abnegation and Candor. You'll probably need a vocabulary lesson but it's worth the understanding of each one. One of my favorite quotes is about how being Divergent is dangerous because they can't control or predict what you will do or think. 

This book series ultimately comes back to thinking and using your mind and making choices being well informed and wise. Not placing yourself in a certain "box" of beliefs simply because it is the "way" it's always been seen and done, but thinking it over for yourself and coming to a conclusion - being careful to separate "Blender Theology"... pick what you want and put it all together and whammo - your very own special blend of religion.

A Christian should be Divergent in the truest sense. We know Who has made us thirsty for knowledge, courage, peace, selflessness and truth. We of all beliefs can say this is our goal. To use our minds and embrace all of those things. Face our fears knowing the One who controls it all. We are more than just a catechism that defines us. We are more than just a stone tablet with 10 rules we have to follow. We have been given a history of faithful people who have lived in the midst of great difficulty and stood firm. We must do the same. Live and Love and THINK. Think beyond what your pastor has said. Read and wonder and ponder. Use each book as a window to see Truth. Toss out the junk. Ask the Spirit to open your eyes. 

Because Mr. Eckel is right. Everything is theology! Everywhere is Truth. Train your eyes and mind to see it. 

Even in this book series. I can see it. I will finish this book even though I'm less than impressed with it. I will be looking for every scrap of Truth because the Author of Truth is worth finding!

Book Basket - Atlas Shrugged

Reading a book is not high on my husband’s “to do” list but listening to audio books while he does other jobs is enjoyable for him. He gets his books from various places based on various opinions. Sometimes it’s for the story or the author, but sometimes it’s to arm himself with accurate details when discussing or refuting the author’s ideas.

Well, this time, he roped me into it. The book is Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.

Ayn Rand is an amazing writer! She’s part philosopher and sociologist with a heavy dose of edge-of-your-seat-thriller mixed in.  I found myself laughing out loud at her accurate descriptions of different groups of people.

I must confess that I haven’t completed the book itself… all 1,168 pages of it.  I am, however, almost done with the 69 pages that comprise chapter 7 of Part 3. Her worldview comes through heavily in this chapter. Mike suggested that I read it first to better understand the rest of her book.

Another interesting fact I discovered is that this book is the most influential book of this century second only to the Bible. I figure if this book influenced the people of a century so much that a religion began, I’d better know what it says.

Among other things, Ayn attacks Christianity through the voice of John Galt. She rips into the idea of Man having Original Sin and what that does to Free Will. She maintains that humans cannot have free will and have original sin at the same time. We cannot make a choice to change ourselves when sinning is in our very nature.

There’s heavy stuff here. This particular chapter will make you dig deep and think hard about your true beliefs.

My husband put it well “Her arguments for the use of one’s mind and logic and rationale are well done, however, the conclusions she draws are wrong. The Christian community could use a whole lot more thinkers and their application of logic.”

As I took a breather (we like to read aloud), I couldn’t help but ask myself – how do I (we) teach our children to think; to not just blindly accept a belief simply because it is widely held within the Christian community or a well-respected leader teaches it.

Mike’s answer? To allow them to think, guide their process. Don’t simply TELL them what to believe. Help them to learn how to ask questions and process the answers using and growing their mind that God values so much.

We know the verses that say “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.”  He created reason, logic and conscious thought. It is not a dichotomy in God’s eyes. Everything is His. Logic glorifies Him. Reason glorifies Him. Our minds working in conscious thought gives Him joy because He made us!

I’m enjoying the difficulty of this book because it forces me to think and really break apart what I believe but most importantly, how I live it.

I dare you to think, er… dance!!

Book Basket: One Thousand Gifts

One of my heroes is Ann Voskamp.

This farmer's wife and homeschooling mother of six speaks to my heart and soul when she tells of her struggle to be thankful when the pile of dirty jeans is so high it's about to topple over, when the clean floor is no longer so minutes after finishing it, when dirty dishes far outweigh the clean ones, and her fears of not fully living the life God has given her.

God has given her an amazing ability to capture with a camera and words the essence of a moment. She has been through horrific valleys; some I relate with and some I have no way to understand except by knowing how big God is. Her blog,  A Holy Experience, is one I follow closely and one I highly recommend. It's always a perspective turner for me.

In her book, One Thousand Gifts, she has a chapter called "a word to live... and die by".  In it she relates a dream where she was told she had cancer. She goes through the last goodbyes and feels panicked as she realizes how badly she wants to live. Her panic wakes her and causes her to reflect on what it means to live life fully.

"It's the life between, the days of walking lifeless, the years calloused and simply going through the hollow motions, the self-protecting by self-distracting, the body never waking, that's lost all capacity to fully feel - this is the life in between that makes us the wild walking dead." 

She goes on to talk about how people who want to live usually want to live for something. Live to see the world... cities/architecture/mountains/countries/people groups that otherwise they'd never see.

"So - more time for more what?  The face of Jesus flashes. Jesus, the God-Man with his own termination date. Jesus, the God-Man who came to save me from prisons of fear and guilt and depression and sadness. With an expiration of less than twelve hours, what does Jesus count as all most important? 

 'And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them....' (Luke 22:19 NIV)."

He gave thanks. As I was sitting in Panera last Friday evening for a little R&R, it really stood out to me. Jesus considered giving thanks (eucharisteo) to be one of the most important things He could do in His last 12 hours on this earth. Even with the betrayer present, He still gave thanks. 

If I'm honest and I had 12 hours left on this earth, I don't think I'd be concerned about giving thanks for the little things like bread. I'd, more than likely, be consumed with worry over my husband and children and making sure everything was as prepared as I could make it. I'd be soaking up the last moments of remembrance and hugs and saying goodbye. 

Serving? Nope. Exuding thankfulness and giving thanks for all things? Um... hardly. 

Christ gives us a pattern that I'm taking steps in.  Give thanks. Always. In all things. 

There are no more excuses - like "I'm having such a day with these crazy mutinous kids!" or "Why do I bother cleaning?? No one really cares. And tomorrow I'll have to do it all over again anyway." 

Ann challenges us to make a list (yes, this definitely goes along with my propensities!); looking with different eyes to see the things God has for us in every single moment of every single day.

Here are some of mine today:
- The shine of my brown eyed boy's eyes and how his dimple deepens when he sees me.
- Greasy little handprints on the front window reminding me of little hands that will leave someday
- The swaying of a neighbor's giant tree as it dances in the breeze.
- Lunch crumbs on the clean floor; God's abundant provision
- Precious time to spend stringing my thoughts together in quiet reflection
- Long eyelashes lining the blue eyes of my little man as he pulls my face close to tell me secrets.

I'm learning to count my one thousand gifts.
I challenge you to begin the journey!

Confessions from a Children's Book Junkie

Wallace’s Lists 

by Barbara Bottner and Gerald Kruglik

“Wallace, a mouse, could do almost anything. Anything, that is, as long as he had a list.

1.    Wallace is a shy mouse.

2.   He writes lists. Lists of recipes, funny words, and frightening experiences.

3.    Wallace meets his lively neighbor Albert.

4.    His world is swiftly opened to new delights, such as painting and music.

5.    Wallace and Albert experience the excitement of an adventure, and Wallace discovers a new joy…

6.    Friendship”

The above quote comes from the inside cover of this amazing children’s book.  I found this little morsel at our local library and while reading it to my boys, almost laughed out loud!  This book accurately depicts me and my husband. I’m Wallace and He’s Albert. J

My favorite section from the book is the following:

“I changed my mind.” Albert boasted.

Wallace was dumbfounded.

“Changing my mind is an adventure,” Albert explained.

“I don’t like adventures,” said Wallace.

“An adventure can be anything. Anything that isn’t planned for.”

“You mean anything that isn’t on a list?” asked Wallace.

“Exactly!” said Albert.

“Do you ever use a map?” Wallace continued. “I have lots of maps!”

“I don’t need maps,” said Albert, “because wherever I go, there I am.”

“But what if you get lost?”

“Being lost is automatically an adventure!” cried Albert.

“Suppose you get lost and then fall down and hurt yourself?”

“I pick myself up and keep going,” replied Albert.

“When I get in an accident, it makes me feel better to write a list,” said Wallace.

I read this to Mike but could hardly read coherently we were laughing so hard!  When we were dating, Mike would come pick me up in Chicago and go wherever we had to that weekend. There was no GPS back then so he’d just ask what direction we’d need to go. I’d tell him a rough estimate “North Arlington Heights area” and along a particular road and off we’d go. Mike’s Mapless Adventures they were. It was how I came to trust his sense of direction. He was always within a couple miles of where we needed to be.

I’m Wallace. I’m sorry to admit it at times, but it is the truth. There’s nothing better than a good list! Checking off things on my list is even better. J I don’t like things not planned. It bothers me to no end to not know what is going on when I’m stressed about something coming up. I’ve intentionally structured our home to run with routines… putting dirty laundry in the sorting bins as you take off your clothes, clearing your dishes when you’re finished eating, putting your glasses in one spot so you won’t have to play Hide N Seek with them when the bus will show up in less than 5 minutes… things like that. As with anything, a great strength can be your greatest weakness. Lists ignored and routines breached can make me feel rather Autistic at times. I feel out of control and the need to cling to something familiar. I rather understand Wallace’s need to write a list when he’s had an accident – even if it’s just a list of what could’ve happened to turn perspective on its head.

If you’re reading this and you happen to know Mike and I, separately or together, you’ll immediately understand the insane humor of the quote I listed previously. Enjoy reading it again to yourself… along with the irony of two mice talking about adventure and making lists. Oh, and if you want to find out what happens to Wallace and Albert, you'll have pick up this little gem at your library! Happy Reading!!

As for me, I think this book will be my next acquisition to my children’s book library.

Maybe I’ll add it to my Book List.