Not Idealistic Gas

After reading my Bible this morning, I turned to my copy of Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. I know that I've talked about this book before, and this morning, I am going to share its wisdom once again.

I read the chapter entitled "Counting the Cost". In this chapter, or lecture as it was originally produced, Lewis discussed his comment of God desiring us to be perfect. He immediately clarifies that he does not mean that if we are not perfect, God will not accept us. Lewis believes that God wants us to strive for perfection and nothing less. But as humans we want less, and God wants to inspire us to more.

After Lewis gives an anecdote about dentists (a dentist does not just fix the hurt; he gives the whole mouth treatment), he says:

Now if I may put it that way, Our Lord is like the dentists. If you give Him an inch, He will take an ell [about 45 inches or so]. Dozens of people go to Him to be cured of some one particular sin which they are ashamed of (like masturbation or physical cowardice) or which is obviously spoiling daily life (like bad temper or drunkenness). Well, He will cure it all right: but he will not stop there. That may be all you asked; but if once you call Him in, He will give you the full treatment. (Lewis 174)

Lewis goes on to explain that this is one of the reasons Christ told people to "count the cost" before coming to Him. Christ wants us to strive for perfection in Himself: "To shrink back from that plan is not humility; it is laziness and cowardice. To submit to it is not conceit or megalomania; it is obedience" (Lewis 175).

The job of making us perfect will not be completed in this life; however, Christ wants us to strive hard after the goal so that His Father may look on us in the end and say He is well-pleased with us.

The command Be ye perfect is not idealistic gas. Nor is it a command to do the impossible.... The process will be long and in parts very painful; but that is what we are in for. Nothing less. He meant what He said. (Lewis 176)

And I'm Standing Amazed

Have you ever learned how to be completely content?

I know I haven't, but for the first time in my college career, I feel as through I'm close.

I finally know what I want to do with my life. I love all of my classes. I am happy.

There is much I need to do still, and I am a master at procrastinating, but I'm learning what is important and what is not. And eventually, I will get to those things I am procrastinating on.

The Lord has blessed me in immense ways here at River Falls. I have amazing friends and a most excellent roommate. I have been given Christian friends in my classes who are interested in my life as I am interested in theirs. I have a job. I have wonderful professors who actually care about me and what I do with my life. I have never felt more content.

I was discussing my life with a friend the other day and was suddenly impressed with the fact that had I not transferred from Northwestern, I would probably not be pursuing Special Education. But that's another post for another time. Like tomorrow.

I can only pray that you may be as content in your circumstances as I am.

But I won't question in the dark

What is true out in the light

I will follow after You

Through the sun and through the night

Cause You've got me

Right where you want me

Yeah, You've got me

Right where I need to be

And I'm standing amazed ("Amazed" by Building 429)

Slightly Failing to Meet Expectations

So I know that I kinda failed at my "reading a book a week over break" goal. However, I did read quite a bit. More than some people might think healthy.

Not only did I finish Little Women and Foundling, I completed A Sweet and Bitter Providence by John Piper, and am about 10 pages from the end of Lamplighter, the second in the Monster Blood Tattoo series.

That's somewhere around 1090 pages. That's pretty good if I do say so myself.

Though I may not have finished all the reading I wanted to, I did read. And that soothes my soul to no end.

I'll post again soon with some wisdom about classes. Or some such nonsense.

Glory be to the one who created words! Praise God!

The Second Adventure

Actually, the title of this blog is a little misleading. The Foundling by D.M. Cornish was actually about the first adventure of the character Rossamund.

The story begins with Rossamund (yes, he is a boy) at the orphanage he was raised in. The reader immediately gets the sense that Rossamund is a little different. He is mocked because of his womanly name and his small size. Yet if one continues with him through the book, they will find that he is not helpless.

Rossamund's journey is far from peaceful, and he runs into many terrors, some monsters and some people. The monsters, nickers and bogles (large and small respectively), are the supposed terror within the Half Continent; however, Rossamund learns that one must not only be wary of the monsters.

I am amazed at this story. D.M. Cornish created an amazing world. This book has at least 100 pages of appendices. There is a glossary, or Explicarium as he calls it, that is extremely extensive, along with maps, explanations of clothing, gear, etc. Basically, if you don't understand something in the story, just look it up in the back. For the most part, he has a thorough explanation.

Just a note: this story does not contain magic. Though many abilities that appear may seem like magic, these monster-fighting tools only come about by special surgeries or potions, etc. Not believable, but very different and fascinating.

Battles with nickers and bogles and people riddle the pages; however, this story does take some getting into. It took me a while to actually enjoy this book completely. I realized, after really getting into it, this book is only the beginning. Yes, basically Foundling is the introduction to a much bigger story. To be able to understand what is going to happen, you must read it.

The second book is called Lamplighter. This story seemed to grab me a lot quicker than the first. Yet this may be because I had already read the first and know what D.M. Cornish can do.

Honestly, I would recommend this book. It is a good one, and I am moving quickly onto the second (which is much longer; hopefully I will finish it before school starts back up). Check it out, and if nothing else, marvel at the time and energy D.M. Cornish put into creating his world.

On to the Second

My second pick for Book of the Week(ish) is Foundling by D.M. Cornish.

I picked up this book for the second time last week; however, the first time I did not get very far. It is my goal to finish this tale this time.

A book about a boy named Rossamund, this story is extremely detailed. Cornish created a world almost as complex if not as complex as Tolkien's Middle Earth. The Half-Continent seems to be a world full of interesting mysteries, and as I read, I'm sure I will discover some of them.

So here goes! Off on another whirlwind adventure!

Hope your reading is exciting you as much as mine. Keep at it!

A Review and Praise for Alcott's Most Famous

So with about 80 pages left of Little Women, I settled into bed last night. It was a perfect way to end a day.

In the pages of Alcott's novel, I found little intrigue or conspiracy, but I found reality. However difficult the life, it was a peacefully simple one. I wonder about the complexity of our world today when I read books such as this, and I find myself desiring the more simple life. I know it was not easy or happy, and one had to work hard for everything they had, but it was less complicated in it's struggles. For the most part. And I am basing my analysis solely on books. I have no experience or anything...

There were so many moments in this book that I would like to relay, but I would also encourage you to read it if you have not already, so I will refrain from giving anything away.

Let's just say, I found a lot of myself in this book. It was very shocking and enlightening to see myself written on the page. I wish that I could always live in this world, coming back daily to the simplicity, if only to dream.

Fantastically written and honestly true, I would recommend this book to any and all. I am looking forward to reading the next in the series, Little Men, and then later, Jo's Boys.

O my girls, however long you may live, I never can wish you a greater happiness than this! (Alcott 669)

Lateness...

I must apologize for my lateness in continuing my blogs about Little Women. I have been busy with wonderful and amazing things. Thus, reading has been on the back burner. However, I plan on finishing today/tomorrow and will begin again.

Hope you had a wonderful holiday!