Classics

So, this wasn't the post I planned to write after my long sabatical from writing :) But I have been inspired as I was pondering Misfit Cygnet's blog post from earlier this week. If you don't read her blog, you should!

I left this comment on her blog earlier this week regarding the book Hunger Games. (sorry for those of you who have read it already...but I did change a few things)

I am a recovering Harry Potter addict. I read all of the books several times. I loved them. They were the thing that got me reading again. I loved listening to them. I could answer every question about "Harry Potter-ness." I will admit I was a little ( a lot) obsessed.

AND THEN, and then my eyes were opened to what God teaches about the glorification of priestcrafts and witchcraft.

Morm. 1: 19

19 And it came to pass that there were sorceries, and witchcrafts, and magics; and the power of the evil one was wrought upon all the face of the land, even unto the fulfilling of all the words of Abinadi, and also Samurel the Lamanite.

Morm. 2: 10

10 And it came to pass that the Nephites began to repent of their iniquity, and began to cry even as had been prophesied by Samuel the prophet; for behold no man could keep that which was his own, for the thieves, and the robbers, and the murderers, and the magic art, and the witchcraft which was in the land.

My extended family likes to give me a hard time because I used to love Harry Potter and then I quit cold turkey…threw out my books, threw out the movies (this was back when there were only two), and refused to see anymore.

I should mention here...I DO NOT desire to create a Harry Potter debate, or Hunger Game, or any other book that has magic, violence, romance, questionable language, etc. in it. I want to talk about principles. And for me the principle was obedience. God says this is wrong, that this is the power of the evil one, this is a kin to murderer's and thieves and robbers. So for me and my family we choose to believe it is wrong and do not partake.

However, this obedience has created a problem for me, now I am nervous even to read Narnia because of the “magic” and perversions. I cringe when I read the “magic” chapter in the Secret Garden or the inuendo’s in the Giver. It is so prevelant. It is everywhere. So, how do YOU judge? What criteria do you judge your books against?

My daughter received The Bridge to Terribithia for her birthday last year. She read the first chapter. It takes the Lord’s name in vain several times. She said she would not like to read it. I am proud of her for her courage and virtue. However, she now chooses not to read because she is afraid of what she will find. She is sticking with Little House on the Prarie and Anne of Green Gables and I can’t say I blame her. Almost every other book out there is steeped in magic (satan’s imitation of power), romance and/or pornography, incorrect attitudes towards parents and family or gender roles, glorification of self and achievements, etc. It is hard even to find picture books to read to small children that don’t include these over-tones. I once thought they were cute and fun and childlike. Now I understand them for what they are…calling evil good and good evil.

So, I began pondering......what makes a book good? What makes a book a classic? What makes it okay to read? What is the Lord's standard for me. What is the principle?

I have read some books that some consider classics. I will mention two here for the sake of my own personal argument (which may or may not be corect). And as I mentioned above I do not desire to start a dialogue about specific books and if they are good or not. But I thought of two books that I have enjoyed in the past and are "classics" Enders Game and Elantris. Both of these books, in my opinion, contain graphic violence and graphic language. Both also have strong messages about good and bad as well as virtues, friendships, qualities of a good leader, human nature, world views, healing etc.

When (just being honest for myself here)I reflect upon what I learned from reading them.....I did learn things. I learned things about society, I learned things about myself, I learned things about others that I love. My eyes were opened to understand things I didn't understand before. They were also both highly entertaining, quick paced, and well written. I did learn things. I did gain understanding. I did enjoy a good story. The Lord taught me some things from these books that I needed to learn.

BUT...and you'll notice it's a BIG BUT. When I read a classic like Jane Eyre I wanted to be more virtuous. I wanted to be more courageous. I wanted to be strong willed in my desires to keep the commandments...all of God's commands, not just the temptation to avoid immorality. I desire and am willing to sacrifice in order to become that type of person.

When I read The Chosen I want to be a better parent. I want to be a better friend. I want to understand the Jews, and other cultures and beliefs. I want to be vigilant in doing what I know my mission in life is to do and be. I want to read the Bible more and gain greater understanding. I want to become a better person.

EVERY TIME I read these books I am recommitted to those principles, and new ones. So, I may be wrong (as misfit says....I often am :) ) but I think truly to be a classic it must not only change us because we learn grow and have a different perspective, BUT (there's that word again) we must truly come closer to God by reading it. The book must give us courage and strength and righteous desires, and virtue, knowledge and ability to BE better. To be more like God is. It should help us see ourselves and others for who we truly are and who we truly must become. It should leave us wanting more...not because we wish the story would not have ended, but because we have been spiritually edified. Because we have received a new heart. Because we have repented of our lack of faith and understanding. Because for a few pages we were nearer to being who God means for us to be.

I have a new standard. It's a pretty high one. It's a pretty scary one. It's one that is going to take lots of prayer and faith and obedience. But I believe my time here on earth is precious. It is the time for me to prepare to meet God. I don't want to waste it when He can and I believe wants to guide me to something so much greater if I just turn it over to Him.

What books have you read lately that have drawn you closer to God, that have changed your heart, that have inspired you to BEcome?

Giving Thanks

I have been listening to the book "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch. He is the young-40 something-man who passed away from Pancreatic Cancer and wanted to leave a legacy for his children so he did a lecture that made him famous. I have been appreciating his candid fresh approach to life and death and today his words were poetic to me.

I was worried...worried about those in my life who are making poor choices, worried about siblings who are at the end of their ropes, worried about thier children and how to help.

I was frustrated...frustrated by the fact that it takes ALL day long just to deep clean the kitchen...UGH! frustrated at my kids who helped for a minute, (okay it was like 4 hours) and then found something more enjoyable to do(..okay it was productive, and creative), frustrated that at 5:00 when my hubby came home I was still mopping the floor...working on the project I started on this morning when he left at 7:00

I was sad...sad that I want to be a mother and not a babysitter, sad that I want to reach out and nurture sweet children who need a mother, sad that I want to put that poor little one on a schedule so he can get some sleep.

And then as I mopped, and scrubbed, and washed, and polished I listened, and I learned, and I thought, about giving thanks.

I am thankful

A husband who provides for my family,

Guidance from God

Teaching our children.

Listening to the Spirit

Understand responsibility and accountability

I can only control myself

I am thankful

A kitchen floor to mop

Strength to work hard all day

Kids who will help me for a little while (forever to them)

A home

Work

Tomorrow to do it all over again (hopefully not from 7 to 5 though :) )

I am thankful

Understanding of my role

Desires to be a mother

Skills

Love for Children

Examples

Good friends who inspire me

I am thankful today for wise words of a man who has now passed on, but left a legacy, not only for his own children,...but today, for ME. For me to SEE gratitude, and love, and joy in a day that was hum-drum and filled with worry and doubt. I am thankful....

# 86 Teenagers....Do Hard Things

I have a daughter who is getting close to entering those "between" years, so I've been reading a bit to learn how to help and how to encourage her to be a young adult. One of the books recommended to me was Do Hard Things. It is written by two twin brothers who were homeschooled Brett and Alex Harris.

There are a few things I didn't love about the book...but lets be honest, there are always a few things not to love about every book (except the scriptures :)) This book definately has the "teen culture" part. And even though it was written for teens I did find myself motivated to be better by the principles that they talked about.

The first section of the book is all about inspiring...in my opinion, the "why" of the book....or the inspiring teens to "why" read this and ultimately the "why" to do something hard.

Quotes from the book:
if you dream big...be ready to face the dream.
(hard things are) opportunities to learn, laugh, and sometimes start over

The thing I learned from this part of the book as a mother is to have high expectations for my children. (like I didn't already :) )The brothers propose that when you have high expectations for people they can meet those high expectations. (calmness, studies, standards etc.) low expectations = low performance. Expectations are a self fulfilling prophecy. I think this also means that I must be intune to the spirit so I can know what high expectations He would have me expect of my children.

My favorite quote "all effort produces muscels, even failed effort." No effort is wasted. Sometimes in my striving I feel like something that isn't working is wasted. I was listening to a book today which said the same thing...if you don't win the race will you be sad you tried? The main character wants to answer yes because it is so important to her to win but then the antagonist points out...what about this muscle you've developed, what about this habit you've gained, what about this skill you've learned; it helps her realize that it is about more than just winning..it is also about the journey. I need to work harder at realizing when things are not "perfect" something has grown or changed and that growth and change and progress are not wasted effort.

My favorite section of the book is part 2...The Five Kinds of Hard

1. Hard thing getting outside your comfort zone
Quotes:
If we take a step we grow in strength and skill
Fear keeps us inside our comfort zone...you can't live by fear and faith
Heavenly Father works through our weakness to accomplish big things
Getting out of our zone helps us learn to have faith in Him, to lean on Him
Waiting for things to be better...there will always be something to be afraid of
You cant get to success without risking failure
What could your life look like if you trust in God and overcome your fears?

This was inspiring to me I have lots of things outside my comfort zone that I don't really want to do :) and yet I feel inspired to do them. At Virtue Girls today I taught the girls about comfort zones and we compared it to a circle...things in our circle are things we are good at or enjoy doing, or want to do (our comfort zones). The things outside our circle are the things that are scary or hard or we don't want to do (outside our comfort zones). It is fun to watch them talk about the things that are hard for them to do and then to see them want to work on them....oh the faith of a child.

2. Raising the bar
Quote:
dont just do your best
mr complacency...be better than just "good"
do what is hard for YOU
be known for what you do...not what you don't
persue excellence not excuses

I enjoyed this section because I think it is very true for many youth. They are praised for "not being bad" or for doing small things like making their beds or getting an A and yet not for doing things that are really hard for them. Now, some teens may really struggle with being bad or with getting an A but generally being above average is looked on as exceptional...even though the youth of today are so much better than being above average...they have the potential to be excellent. This chapter suggests not just settling for what you can do, just getting by, or meeting the low expectations others have for you...but to push yourself to do better then your best, to do that thing that is hard for YOU...wether it be an A, making your bed, speaking in front of others, or reaching for the BIG goal you think there is no way you could ever do.

3.Power of collaboration
strength in numbers
start with questions....what does God say, my parents say, lead or help?
strengths weakness', care about issue
walk with the wise
families
use technology
treasure constructive criticism
credit is free if you give it away
other people are sinners too...runs on regular
expect a nightmare or two
dont give up
success happens in more ways than one...success looks different

This chapter is all about working with others...something I am not good at. Sometimes I think that if I can't do it by myself then it is not worth doing...but that is not true. I cannot even live the gospel all by myself because we need each other. Part of the plan of our Heavenly Father is the lifting and the helping of each other and I need to be lifted and helped as much as I need to lift and help. I also enjoyed their wisdom...I think it was their dad that said "runs on regular" meaning that work is done by regular people...even God's work. The Lord does not only use exceptional, brilliant, talented people to do his work he also uses humble, slow and sick people to do his work. I also like the last quote...success happens in more ways than one. That reminds me of the thoughts above about muscles...it is not always about the winning or the doing, sometimes it is about the journeys and the small successes...sometimes it is about the seeds and not about the blossom.

4. Small hard things
small hard things are:
things that usually dont go away after you do them
things that dont seem very important
things that dont seem to make a difference
things that dont seem very glamorous
things you do when no one is watching

things that keep us from doing small hard things
procrastination
inconsistency
compromise
begrudging
cheating

So if you haven't guessed that is making your bed, doing the dishes, and the laundry for all you mom's out there....or mabey it's reading one more book about that subject, or attending another city council meeting, or having a shower. Sometimes, especially when you read a book like this that gets you fired up to do BIG hard things, it is hard to remember that you still have to do all the little daily things that "sharpen the saw" as Covey says.

They share a story about the vikings here which I thought was inspirational. The vikings came accross the sea and terrorized all the poor sea coast cities in Europe. The Europeans had boats but the Vikings ships were small and they would drag them up to shore, loot and plunder and get back to their boats and away before anything could be done...sly, fast and deadly. One of the reasons they were so effective at this was because Europeans hired others or made slaves or criminals row their boats...but not the Vikings, they rowed their own boats..they did the hard work of rowing and they couldn't be beat for upper body strength...doing the small little unimportant thing..rowing the boat..made them the great warriors that they were....not that we should be vikings...their character needed a little more work :)

5. taking a stand
do what's right even when it hurts
the hard decision can also be easier...we'll always be glad we did

how and when to stand
start with the bible
examine yourself...fix yourself first
listen to your conscience
seek godly counsel
be humble, loving, and bold
be for something...not against everything

The last section was their weakest in my opinion and yet needed to be one of their strengths. Standing up for something, or doing something even when it hurts, or making the hard decision because you have to make it is difficult, at best. And yet it is such an integral part of choosing God's plan. There must be a time when you choose, when you choose that you will be on the Lord's side. I believe they are saying this in the book...I just didn't feel they did it as well as the other parts...but hey at 17 how many of us have written a book that stares directly in the face of popular culture :0...mabey they've already got this one down. I definately dont :) I liked their suggestions to seek for the Lord when making a stand to make sure you are firmly on His side, and then to fix the problem in yourself first...not in others...how many times is it easier to see someone elses problem and try to fix that. Seeking godly counsel means to talk with others who are wiser than you. My favorite one though was the last one...be for something, not against everything. I tend to feel like I am always fighting against everything. I liked their advice about pick something you are for and then fight for that...don't always play the antagonist.

Section 3 is all about their vision, another part that wasn't my favorite, but might be helpful for a teen who needs a bigger reality I did enjoy their interpretation of the parable of the salt of the earth and the light under a bushel. The salt is a preserver, the light is given. They believe that the salt is to remind us about the things that we need to save...from sin, from the world, our families, our communities, our world. The light is to remind us of the things we need to give to others...the gospel, truth, knowledge, our influence. I liked this anaolgy, the beautiful thing about the Saviors words they have so much meaning and depth.

The twins advocate 3 things that to do hard things you need :character: passionate about growing in christlikeness ,competence: care deeply about skill strategy andcreativity, and last
collaboration finding and working with others . Do not just make a difference, be a difference. Their suggestions are:get rid of old things, help those who stand alone,rethinking companionship, get honest ,get rid of negative actions,recognized people who can help you, plan 1 or 2 key actions that keep you from chickening out, stay close to God, and expect and be excited about success.

The overall theme for myself was courage...courage to do the hard things that I need to do and am scared to do, but then my sweet...almost teen daughter pointed out something wonderful to me today. She was working on a lesson about courage, ironically, and she said, "mom, every time I think about courage I just can't think about courage because what I always think about is Faith." How profound from a 10 year old. So my overall theme for myself is now faith...faith to do the hard things that God needs me to do and that I am scared to do. Really it is His work and His glory and I am glad that the book helped me to remember it.