Note: the following blog post is a repost from our 2009 Southwest Regional Retreat Writers Workshop blog page. Click here for the main 2009 C.S. Lewis Southwest Regional Retreat page.

——————————————————————————–

Inklings & Intentness (the only “I” word I could find for passion)

A Passion for Books, By Terry Glaspey: Editor Harvest House

Book Review by Nan Rinella

Terry Glaspey is having an affair-with books. He has a passion for them.

“I came late to a love for books,” Glaspey writes. As a child, he was addicted to TV but it left him empty. What was missing was a sense of wonder that could best be met by books. This love, when it came, came with a passion.

They say that the most precious things are found in the smallest of boxes. This wee tome is a grand treasure in a tiny package-a sprinkling of gems from the Great Books. I savored every moment of my read. It was like indulging in a box of gourmet chocolates, tasting each morsel, letting it melt in my mouth, and wanting more.

I can only describe this book in terms of feasting on it-not devouring but relishing. Like a rich chocolate (can you tell I’m a chocoholic?) mousse sprinkled with luscious nuts and dried fruits, and presented like a work of art. It’s a beautiful gift book artfully designed with prints, portraits, and chuck full of delicious quotes from the greats.

C.S. Lewis: “No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which in not equally (and often far more) worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond.”

Glaspey refutes computers doing away with printed volumes. He cannot imagine climbing into bed with a computer or languishing in the tub with one. This is my type of person. I was very careful not to let his book fall into my bath.

Tags: A Passion for Books, Camp Allen, Nan Rinella, Southwest Regional Retreat, Terry Glaspey

Please note that the content and viewpoints of Mr. Hansen are his own and are not necessarily those of the C.S. Lewis Foundation. We have not edited his writing in any substantial way and have permission from him to post his content.

—————————————————————————–

Dear Friends:

This is the thirteenth message in the series on fretting and worry. It is easy to forget the grace that has brought us through. Remembering is an antidote to fretting.

Do you ever have moments of reflection when you realize your puzzle is missing a few pieces? Maybe it’s the relationship that hasn’t lived up to expectations. How about the income that can’t meet the debt? Perhaps your spirit is willing and optimistic, but your body fails the demand you place on it. Then again, you may have committed every resource of intellect, emotion, physical strength, and spiritual knowledge only to find you lack what it takes to meet your goal. You may have many more blanks on your test sheet than answers and you are reduced to chewing on your pencil, paralyzed by fear of the unknown.

What do you remember in those moments of reflection?

Jesus took five loaves of bread and two fish, prayed over them, broke them and fed a crowd of more than 5,000 with twelve baskets of bread and fish left over (Mk. 6:30-44). Later, he took seven loaves and a few fish, blessed them, and fed a crowd of more than 4,000 with seven baskets left over (Mk. 8:1-10).

The Pharisees saw it all and argue with him about it. “Show us a sign from heaven,” they say, to test him.

“Nothing doing,” Jesus replies with a sigh. “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation” (Mk. 8:12).

The Son of Man has nothing to prove. He gets into a boat with his disciples and sails away.

What do you remember when you can’t see Jesus on the horizon?

There are thirteen hungry men in the boat this day and they have one loaf of bread among them. The disciples were responsible for packing up the left-overs of the miracle meals–nineteen baskets full. They have already forgotten the bounty of the miracle meal. (Mk. 8:14).

Meanwhile, Jesus’ mind is on the relentlessly obtuse Pharisees. There is no faith, no wonder at the mystery of life and love with them. They answer every question, address every issue with a rule or a penumbra of a rule. Instead of faith, they live by guilt and spread it to everyone they can. There is no practical difference between a religion of legalism and a bondage to superstition. Either way, the grip on the soul is terror–terror that you’ll do the wrong thing; terror that you will say the wrong words: terror that you will take your cue from the wrong event; terror that you won’t measure up to the rest; terror that you won’t know what you are supposed to know. Trying to please God by rule-keeping is to enter the spelling bee as a dyslexic.

What do you remember when there are more rules than you can keep?

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: A Word of Grace, Kent Hansen, worry