Forsaking All

After reading five fictional books in four weeks, I was ready to take on something a little more serious and life changing. Since I first read Authentic Beauty in the summer of 2007, I have been captivated and encouraged by Leslie Ludy. Her books motivate me to become more like Christ each day, making Him not just prominent, but preeminent in my life.

My latest Ludy purchase, Sacred Singleness, is my current summer read. While Ludy's book is shorter than every book I read last month, I know Sacred Singleness will take me more time to read. Why? There's more to digest because God is sure to work on my heart--and I admit that I may not be completely willing to change.

The book begins with a reminder that in order to become more like Christ, I must be willing to forsake all--even the one thing society believes every girl dreams of: marriage. Ludy notes that "Our fulfillment cannot be found in marriage, children, or fairy-tale dreams come true. Until He is our all in all, we aren't truly living the Gospel life" (16).

Like so many Christian young ladies, I have struggled with this "curse" of singleness . . . but (as Ludy points out) singleness is not a curse, it is a gift! I can minister to the Lord as a single person in ways that I could never minister if I were married right now. Truly, as the song says, "Jesus Christ is made to me all I need."


So, am I completely content in Christ 100% of the time? Of course not! In fact, there are even times while reading Sacred Singleness that I want to throw the book down and complain that "Leslie just doesn't understand . . . after all, she's married!" But I know the true cause of my frustration: God want to change me--He wants me to be content in Him, but I'm still struggling to give Him every area He asks for. 


The Lord used Leslie Ludy to slap me in the face. Total surrender--"forsaking all"--isn't a cake walk. In fact, God tells us that walking in His steps will be hard. Elisabeth Elliot hit the nail on the head when she wrote that "None of us likes pain. All of us wish at times we did not need to 'go through all this stuff.' Let us settle it once and for all: we cannot know Christ and the power of His resurrection without the fellowship of His suffering" (20). Complete commitment to Christ requires sacrifice. God doesn't say what the sacrifice will be, but He does command that we willingly lay aside everything to follow His will.


So far, I'm loving Sacred Singleness, even if I do have a hard time swallowing the truths Ludy presents. My God wants to change me and I must be willing to forsake all.

Summer Reading

Can you believe that summer is here? Summer is a wonderful time to work on that tan (or, as is my case, accumulate more freckles), work around the house, raise money for next semester's college bill, and, of course do some summer reading!

I love summer vacation because I can finally read the books I want to read without being distracted by completing 18 credits worth of course work. As soon as finals week began in late April, I began compiling my summer reading list and got started on reading. 

All the books I have read in the month since returning home from college I happily recommend to you. I warn you that I've been on an adolescent literature kick, but I'm sure you'll enjoy them as much as I did.

May's Must-Reads

• A Swiftly Tilting Planet (L'Engle): This is the third book in L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time series. The book stretches the imagination as the reader travels with Charles Wallace through space and time. If you enjoy science fiction, this is a must read (of course, I recommend that you read the other novels in the series as well).
• The Throne of Fire (Riordan): If you don't know me very well, I should warn you that I have become quite obsessed with all three of Riordan's young adult series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Heroes of Olympus, and the Kane Chronicles. The Throne of Fire is Riordan's newest release and the second book in the Kane Chronicles. Before you pick up The Throne of Fire, make sure you read The Red Pyramid. Riordian uses these series to lay a foundation of Greek, Roman, and Egyptian mythology for adolescent and mature readers alike. I warn you, these you may become addicted to reading, but don't worry, the second installment of the Heroes of Olympus is due to release in October.
• Fairest (Levine): Have you ever heard of Ella Enchanted (if you've only watched the movie, you are missing out on the majority of Ella's struggle with her curse)? Well, Fairest is another great retelling of a classic fairy tale (I won't tell you which one, you'll have to discover that for yourself). Levine does a wonderful job telling an old story in a new way. If you got a few hours, pick up Fairest and get lost in the beauty of music.
• And Then There Were None (Christie): Once known as Ten Little Indians this book is a fantastic thriller mystery (which isn't too surprising). Get wrapped up in the mystery--pick up the book at Barnes & Noble for around $13.
• The Phantom of the Opera (Leroux): Andrew Lloyd Webber did not do this classic mystery justice. Leroux proves his creative and deductive genius when he supposedly retells the story of Paris' opera phantom. To get a proper understanding of the book, don't skip the introduction or epilogue--the back story will blow your mind. You can follow Christine, Raoul, and the Phantom through the opera by downloading the book for free through websites like Project Gutenberg or by downloading it to your nookcolor (nook or kindle) for around $1.

Archaic Junior Highers

Junior high love—who isn’t both touched (and a little creeped out) by those innocent, intimate crushes? But we all know that junior high crushes do not just take place in adolescence—anyone can experience this awkward love at anytime of life. Norris makes this clear when he introduces the sweet, awkward relationship of Old Grannis and Miss Baker.

Old Grannis is, well, and old gentleman who runs a veterinary hospital. He is quiet and keeps to himself, binding old books and pamphlets in the evenings to keep himself busy.

Miss Baker is the petite retired seamstress who lives next door to Old Grannis on the flat. She spends her days caring for and talking with her friends. In the evenings, she rests in her rocking chair with a cup of tea.

Maria is convinced the two are in love. And yet, the two have never met! They have never spoken a word to each other. But both leave their doors open just a crack as he binds pamphlets and she sips on tea. They are “keeping company”—they are archaic junior higher in the midst of an overwhelming crush.

In the midst of a dark, cynical, evolutionistic tale, Norris includes a ray of sunshine—a breath of fresh air. The reader cannot help but giggle (or at least smirk) when Old Grannis and Miss Baker meet for the first time. Can’t you feel their uneasiness as Marcus flamboyantly introduces them? Your breath catches when Miss Baker unwittingly turns to Old Grannis at the McTeagues’ wedding and says, “Don’t you just love children?” You blush with the dear lady as she becomes overwhelmed with the “impropriety of the situation.

But then, they meet. On the stairs. All alone. Will this be it? Will they finally speak to each other? NOPE. In fact, both become so nervous that Old Grannis knocks the little seamstress’s grocery basket right out of her hands. Lettuce and produce fly through the air and tumble to the bottom of the stairs. Who will save the situation? (dun-duh-dah!) MARCUS TO THE RESCUE!

As the situation with the McTeagues worsens, hope seems to flee the story. More than once I wanted to put the book down and let it gather dust. Then Norris let the junior high crush blossom to its full potential.

One evening, after selling his binding machine for a great deal of money, we discover Old Grannis sitting alone in his room with nothing to do. Poor dear man! He feels he has sold his happiness for money and he was disgusted with himself. He listened as Miss Baker made herself tea and rocked in her chair.

But then, something changes. Rather than making just one cup of tea and sitting in her chair so close to him for the rest of the evening, Miss Baker acts outside of character. With boldness she can’t explain, she makes two cups of tea and . . . and brings the tray over to Old Grannis. Once she has offered the tea (and he responds with silence) her courage expires and she begins to retreat to the safety of her room.

Then Old Grannis speaks.

For the rest of the evening those two archaic junior highers “keep company” with each other. In the same room. Holding hands.

(549)

Gold Fever

Maria is crazy. No one really needs to be convinced of that—they woman introduces herself with the phrase, “I had a flying squirrel, but it ran away.” Really? How nuts (pardon the pun) can you be?

But that’s not the only thing that makes the maid-of-all-work crazy. No, there is something worse. She claims that when she was growing up in South America her family owned a set of golden dishes. Not golden plated dishes, but solid golden dishes. See? The woman is completely off her rocker.

Once a month, Maria collects junk to sell to the junk man Zerkow. And at each meeting Zerkow offers Maria alcohol and has her tell the story of the golden dishes---over, and over, and over again. Soon, the pathetic, grimy weasel is consumed with Maria’s story. He is crazier than she is—he believes her story is true! For a man of his passions, this can only have a horrible ending.

Maria and Zerkow are married and the situation goes from bad to worse (told ‘ya so). After delivering a still-born child, Maria really loses it. Actually, she just loses it—the story of the golden plates. She denies ever telling anyone about the golden plates and tells everyone they’re crazy themselves. Zerkow, who only married the woman in hopes that she would lead him to the vast fortune, becomes enraged. Greed consumes him. He watches his wife’s every move and accuses her of hiding the immense treasure from him.

The obsession drives him to the edge.

In cold-blooded desperation, Zerkow cuts his wife’s throat, ending any hope he had in finding the elusive golden dishes. With the treasure gone, Zerkow vainly tries to collect whatever he can—tin and brass pots and dishes. Search is made for the heinous murderer. And they find him—floating in the river with a bag of useless dishes in his hands.

Gold fever—it’ll kill you.

(322)

Trina's Hoard

A hoard is a horrible thing. The accumulation of wealth simply for the false joy of piling all the glittering things. Dragons in romantic novels hoard treasures, killing adventuresome men who come seeking quick wealth. Both the dragon and the thief harbor the same problem: greed.

The sweet, beautiful Trina, with her tiara of raven hair, characterizes herself as “economical.” Now, when someone has nothing and saves well, they are economical—living practically with income and expenses in mind. In short, an economical person lives within their means.

The question is, “Is Trina economical?”

Well, yes and no.

Innately, Trina is economical. She is used to stretching nothing as far as it goes. She has lived well on a meager income, taking care of herself and wanting virtually nothing. But then, the dragon within her is awakened.

 $5000—wonderful sum of money. Winning that lottery changes Trina’s life forever. She was set—with her economical mind, she would be able to live comfortably for some time. $5000—she had money enough to get married and begin a wonderful life with McTeague.

$5000—a glittering pile of money. Once the news set in, Trina became consumed with saving—being “economical” as she put it. While Marcus became angry with McTeague for stealing his girl and all that money, while McTeague struggles to understand the whole of the situation, while her family and friends congratulate her on her winnings, Trina begins to hoard her new, glittering possession.

Dependent on her “economy,” Trina invests the $5000 into Uncle Obermann’s business and resolves that she and McTeague will live off the $25 interest and income of their jobs. But is she really being economical?

I believe a monster has awakened within. Trina’s grip on her hoard will only become tighter as more time passes. Her hoard will grow and her life will become consumed with gaining one more dollar.

(315)

The Lottery

The lottery. That fantastic game of chance that could make princes of paupers. American society is filled with poor, destitute persons who use their last dollar to gamble on the lottery. A wasted last dollar for the majority—each grappling for a mirage of wealth and fame. Few win and “fate” ironically rewards the rich or middle-class over those who have given all to the gamble. But every once in a while, “fate” aids the struggling. Every once in a while, the prize is given to the unexpectant—like Trina.

Trina bought her winning ticket on accident—an accident that would change her life forever. She spent a measly dollar—one dollar—to rid herself of Maria. Not for the chance to will thousands, but for the momentary reward of peace and quiet.

When she and McTeague return from the show, the little flat on Polk Street is anything but quiet. As soon as she enters the apartment, Trina is swarmed by nearly every resident. Has she heard the news? What will she do with the reward—the $5000?

It’s almost too much to take in. But Norris doesn’t just reveal Trina’s thoughts and emotions, he dives into each character. This prick of interest—this $5000 lottery, begins the downward spiral of greed for most of residents of Polk Street.

Trina becomes consumed with saving. Like Rockefeller, she will be satisfied with one more dollar. She becomes stingy and hostile—regretting spending $200 dollars on her wedding and refusing to assist her husband in any way. The $5000 must not be touched. It must be saved for a rainy day . . .

Mac sees the money as opportunity to live a warm, comfortable life. Truly, if he had his own way the money would be gone in a week due his immense simplicity. After all, what else is money for, but to make a man comfortable and happy?

Marcus turns jealous and vengeful. That $5000 is rightfully his! Didn’t he give Trina to McTeague? Wasn’t he there when Trina bought the ticket? McTeague has stolen everything from him—his girl and his immense fortune. Marcus won’t be slighted—you just wait . . .

(365)

McTeague's Simplicity

How many times can a man be called a simpleton and idiot before taking offense? Apparently, Frank Norris was not concerned that the massive, blonde brute of a dentist he created would be coming by to haunt him. McTeague is referenced as simple and stupid in every chapter and on nearly every page.

McTeague is a huge, brutish man with only his strength to recommend him. Every character in the novel, from the friend-turned-enemy Marcus to the petite little wife Trina, remarks and jests at McTeague’s incredible simplicity.

Though the man may be simple-minded, I don’t really believe there is anything simplistic about Norris’ ignorant character.

Truly, at the beginning of the novel, the reader wonders how Norris is going to make this big, burly, bone-head an interesting character to follow. I mean, the guy is a dentist. How many of us really care to follow the boring life of a dentist? Especially one from the turn of the last century. I have to admit, I was not at all excited about reading McTeague after the first couple pages. I just don’t see how Norris can take this story anywhere with a dentist as the central character!

But, as I continue to read, McTeague reveals the layers we all hide. Poor guy, he reminds me of nearly every awkward person I’ve ever met. The man has no idea how to relate to people—especially women. He never dreams that he is in love with Trina until the “animalistic desire” comes over him suddenly after putting her to sleep for a dental operation. I nearly laughed out loud as I imagines this idiotic brute fumble and contemplate the emotions reeling inside his head.

Maybe he is a fool—he doesn’t seem to follow anything. The brute met with Trina for weeks before he realized he was falling in love—and I’m not even sure I can use that terminology. He simply felt that he must have her at any cost. Now that, is simplistic thinking.

(334)