Comments about knitting and a few thoughts from Madeleine L'Engle

Thank you so much for your comments on my last post about my knitting gone awry and life lessons learned from it. I love getting your comments. Love, love, love them. I don't always respond to each and every one--especially as homeschooling is really at the minimum a part time job and I don't have nearly as much bloggy time as I used to.

All that to say, I love them. Getting feedback from you makes this feel like a conversation rather than me just sitting at my desk and typing words on my computer.

I mentioned the other night on Twitter that I was headed to bed to read (again!) Madeleine L'Engle's book Walking on Water. This is one of those books I read again and again.

In fact, I first read it when we lived in California during my year-long fast from fiction.

(Which is a whole other story I'll tell another time.)

I checked it out from the library and wanted so badly to write all over it. Instead I copied excerpts into my journal and then thought, Enough!, and promptly ordered a copy for my very own.

(Have you ever done that? Read a book from the library or a friend and just had to have a copy for yourself? Which ones? I'd love to know!)

Anyway, couple of things about this book. I know it says that it's about faith and art. And it is. But it is filled with all kinds of life wisdom for everything from parenting to marriage to friendship to creativity to reading to...well, everything.

Here are a few of the things I've underlined to whet your appetite:

I've long since stopped feeling guilty about taking being time; it's something we all need for our spiritual health, and often we don't take enough of it...When I am constantly running there is no time for being. When there is no time for being there is no time for listening.

But one does not have to understand to be obedient.

Often we forget that he has a special gift for each one of us, because we tend to weigh and measure such gifts with the coin of the world's marketplace.

Where language is weak, theology is weakened.

I have to try, but I do not have to succeed.

If we are qualified, we tend to think that we have done the job ourselves. If we are forced to accept our evident lack of qualification, then there's no danger that we will confuse God's work with our own, or God's glory with our own.

We have to be braver than we think we can be, because God is constantly calling us to be more than we are.

You get the picture. And all that's just up to page 71. Go get a copy for yourself. Preferably one you can write in. You'll be glad you did.

Another thing about this book. The hardcover version that I pictured here (the one I have) has a foreword written by Nichole Nordeman, which makes me happy. Because she was my very best friend in the whole world when we were in first and second grade. We wore matching clothes and boots to school, spent our allowance together on grade books so we could play school with our younger siblings, and sang our hearts out to The Music Machine. (Obviously, we know who sang the best!)

Comments

[Erin]

I love that book! I read it for the first time earlier this year. Now I want to pull it out and re-read!

[Marla Taviano]

That's nuts about you and Nichole! I had no idea!! I love her!!! (and Music Machine too!)

[Melissa]

I am putting this book on my list of "To be Read...Soon!" list! Sounds fantastic! And I am definitely one that needs to write all over the books I love. I still remember realizing for the first time it was OK to mark in my Bible and even date the markings to remember special moments in my walk with HIm. Totally cool about Nicole Nordeman! And I would love to hear more about your fast from fiction...maybe soon???

By the way, loving your blog!

[Pam Romo]

I'll look for this book - sounds good.
I wanted to tell you I bought Hind's Feet on High Places and Mountains of Spices, on your recommendation. I've read Hind's Feet so far, and LOVED it. Perfect book at the perfect time in my growth. Thanks! I'm looking forward to reading Mountains of Spices now.

Pam Romo

[Lisa @ The Preacher's Wife]

I'm with you on having to be able to write in books. The latest I highlighted to pieces was Searching for the Invisible God by Yancy. Great stuff.

This is also why I haven't yet bought a Kindle. When they figure a way for me to highlight and recall all the quotes I would like to reference at a later date I will own one!

[Mandy]

I'm kind of the opposite in that I hate writing in books... the student in me likes to keep them in perfect condition, and I tend to freak out at even a bent corner. But I do copy tons and tons into my journal. I have devoured all books written by Shane Claiborne~ those seem to be the ones on constant rotation with me. This one sounds good, though... I'll add it to my growing list, thanks!

[Betsy]

Have you read her "Two Part Invention" about her marriage? I loved that one! Love this one, too!!