If you came to visit my office, you’d see my walls are lined with bookshelves. Twelve in all—six ceiling-to-floor shelves and another six half that height. Plenty of room for all my books, right? Yeah, that’d be nice. I still have box upon box of books, all awaiting the day they can come out and play. Trouble is, I’m out of room for bookshelves. So I find myself faced with the painful duty of culling. I’ve done this difficult task probably 10 times since we moved here 8 Thanksgivings ago, and still the boxes aren’t empty.
What can I say? I love books. Always have. The feel of one in my hands, the smooth pages under my fingers, the welcoming typeface that works magic and brings worlds to life…worlds that sometimes are more real to me than the one I actually live in. Worlds peopled with characters and creatures that have become threads in the fabric of who I am.
Books are, quite simply, a miracle.
What but a miracle could let me once again be a child, sitting at my mother’s side? Could let me know, as well as I know my hometown, locations around the world and beyond? Could bring peace in the midst of turmoil, laughter in the face of dread, acceptance in the stead of anger. What but a miracle could share words that ring so true they live on years after I’ve read them? Words that make me see, make me smile, make me surrender and change…
“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver. “Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
“I am what I am. I would tell you what you want to know if I could, for you have been kind to me. But I am a cat, and no cat anywhere ever gave anyone a straight answer.”
“Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. “Pooh?” he whispered.
“Yes, Piglet?”
“Nothing,” said Piglet, taking Pooh’s hand. “I just wanted to be sure of you.”
“If you have no faith in yourself, then have faith in the things you call truth. You know what must be done. You may not have courage or trust or understanding or the will to do it, but you know what must be done. You can’t turn back. There is now answer behind you. You fear what you cannot name. So look at it and find a name for it. Turn your face forward and learn. Do what must be done.
“Is it not unsupportable to be held down to a canter when you long to gallop for miles?”
Do some of these words live in you as well? What words, thoughts, and ideas have books planted within you? What words still live on, coming out to play at the wisest, most opportune moment?
This Advent season, I want to invite you on an exploration with me. Advent is a season of hope and celebration. A season to ponder in your heart Immanuel: God with us! To ponder the many ways God has met you. So over the next few weeks, I’ll invite you in to my office for a visit. Because I have some friends there I’d like you to meet. The friends who shared the words above…and others.
So until next week, blessings upon each and every one of you!
When you’ve moved 17 times as we have~it’s easy to cull~~tho ya keep remembering and wishing for them back. I’ve even been known to see one I got rid of in a thrift store and been so happy to buy it again–arrrgh! And then have to get rid of it, again. In my whole life I’ve only lived in a condo once for almost 10 years–that was special. Oh well!
I don’t have a quote from the book that made the most impact on my life because I read it as a child mumble mumble years ago. I’m not even sure of the title. It may have been Calico Captive by Elizabeth George Speare, or it could have been Indian Captive by Lois Lenski.
How can I say it was an important book in my life and not remember it? Because it wasn’t the title, but the words that became my shield during a time when I badly needed a buffer from the world. Here’s what I remember… the main character captive is crying behind the wigwam when a young girl approaches. During their conversation, the young Indian girl says allowing someone to see you cry is giving them power over you. Even at my young age, I realized the truth in that statement. In the story, the captive considers that and decides no one will ever see her cry again. I can’t say I never cried again (just send me a rejection and watch the flow) but for years, I wrapped those wise words around me and let hurtful ones bounce off.
Karen, I’m looking forward to reading/seeing more of your workplace in the coming weeks.
Anita Mae.
I needed this encouragement today. What beautiful words you’ve shared. A reminder of all that lives in me through literature.
Here are some words that speak often to me even years after reading the book Redeeming Love, Francine Rivers.
“Love with strength and purpose and passion and no matter what comes against you. Don’t weaken. Stand against the darkness, and love. That’s the way back into Eden. That’s the way back to life.”
But the love of literature and mysteries of the pen and adventures I can never forget, I owe to C.S. Lewis and Frank Peretti and Anne Shirley and Huck Finn and, and, and…
I was just about to cull, now I don’t wanna! 😉
The one drawback to the house I bought 4 years ago is not enough room for bookshelves. Most of my 1000+ volume library is in boxes in the garage. I really need to remedy that