In my first novel, a character said at the triumphant climax, "The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light."
Chills ran across my shoulders as I penned the words. This is good, I thought. Sometime later I discovered the line was in the Book of Common Prayer, the first collect for Advent. Sometime after that, I discovered it was scripture: Romans 13:12. Outright plagiarism--reminds me of when I saw the movie of The Magic Flute and discovered that Mozart had stolen all sorts of ideas from a play I'd recently written.
This morning, bumping along reading Psalm 80 in Spanish, I hit resplandece. It means "shine forth." I like the sound of it. Resplandece!
I think of the election battles; of all the talk about rights. Let's talk about lefts. The night is far spent, what is left? You and me and the muddle in the middle. Let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light.
"Oh, my friend, it's not what they take away from you that counts. It's what you do with what you have left." --Hubert Humphrey
The hot gift book I've discovered for my creative, spiritual friends is Pausing for Beauty; a Poetry Diary. This beautiful, spiral bound journal has unlined pages on the left and lined pages on the right. The corners are graced with exquisite small watercolors and light-filled poems. Every five or so pages there's an undated month grid. (You can fill in the dates, use it for a quilt design or..) I ordered five of these books from Heron Dance Press. Then, after showing one to my Illuminated Journaling class, I had to order five more. Retail Price is $17.95--I'm selling them for $15, which is currently cheaper than Amazon. (Shock!)
"Following the light of the sun, we left the Old World." --Christopher Columbus
Wandering the store, dust rag in hand, I look for other books that would be great gifts. Kathleen Norris' The Quotidian Mysteries: Laundry, Liturgy and "Women's Work" is an insightful little book, a reminder that peace and tranquility can be found in the daily rituals of our lives. Quotidian is $6.95 new and we also have a used copy for $4. Another little book is The Prayer that Heals; Praying for Healing in the Family by Francis MacNutt. I've sold more of these than any other book on prayer. (Well, not counting my book, Using the Word.) A marvelous introduction to praying for others, The Prayer that Heals is $9.95.
"Following the light of the son....
This is a great time of year to give someone a daily devotional book. C.S. Lewis' The Business of Heaven provides an introduction to his work. Given the popularity of the Narnia stories, The Business of Heaven could easily help young adults explore his other books one day at a time. We have a new copy that has been sitting around long enough to be marked down from $15 to $12. We also have a whole shelf of other daily devotionals, from classics like Oswald Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest, to collections from a compendium of authors. Many are in good condition with prices ranging from $3 - $6. Meanwhile, someone who is really getting serious about faith based prayer might appreciate our paperback collection of E.M. Bound's Books on Prayer, $7.
Ruth told me about The Green Bible, a version put out by Harper. Environmentally relevant passages are in green. This NRSV Bible includes inspirational essays by various folk--Barbara Brown Taylor, Wendell Berry, Pope John Paul II, N.T. Wright. It also includes a list of references for further study. Amazing what you can find out about by going to Toastmasters. The Green Bible theoretically retails for $29.95.
"Always watch where you are going. Otherwise, you may step on a piece of the Forest that was left out by mistake." --Pooh's Little Instruction Book, inspired by A. A. Milne
I pulled two tiny, stocking size books off the 'Gift Book' shelf and put them on what might yet become a Christmas display. Soon I'll gather Jan Karon's The Mitford Snowmen, John Grisham's Skipping Christmas, a little New Testament with an olive wood cover and...where is that little Fimo creche we made years ago in Sunday School? You know, the one with the Star Wars-esq Kings, the white blob sheep and the "What is this pink blob?" Oh, a pig. Hmmmm... If you're one of those people who hit the streets the Friday after Thanksgiving, don't come to The Word Shop. I'm one of those people who spend that Friday hanging out with my family. Instead of a Grand-Shopping Day, it's a Grand-Parent Day.
The mother of my Grandson sent me Coraline by Neil Gaimen. If you read last month's newsletter, you know the dangers of reading books that this particular daughter-in-law sends. The cover of Coraline says things like "splendidly strange and frightening." However, I am terrifically fond Good Omens, Gaimen's irreverent look at Revelation and the end of the world. Therefore I jumped into Coraline. Fortunately it wasn't a dark, stormy night with no one home but the growling beast. I emerged (safely) an hour and a half later. If you like chilling fantasy, you'll like Coraline.
"When it is dark enough, you can see the stars." --Ralph Waldo Emerson
Thanks to all of you who spend Thanksgiving weekend untangling Christmas lights (where is my second son when we need him?). Yes, a single spotlight would be easier, but not nearly as glorious as those multiple strings of tiny lights. May we untangle ourselves and, hand in hand, shine forth.
"Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn't know you left open." --John Barrymore
Resplandece.
Blessings,
Alliee +