Bonding with Book Characters

Liz Curtis Higgs has been a favorite author for both Les and me ever since her Bad Girls of the Bible days. I met her at a book signing event and told her that Les had been reading Bad Girls on our vacation and ended up giving it to the breakfast hostess at the hotel because she was so curious about it. I even had her sign her book for Les, probably the only man she had inscribed a book for all day.

So when WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group offered me a free copy of Higgs' book Mine Is the Night to review, I couldn't resist. Mine is the Night is a continuation of the story begun in Here Burns My Candle. It is the story of the biblical book of Ruth transported to the Scottish borderlands of the 1740s. A leap, I know, but well done. Maybe a pastor's wife shouldn't say this, but I'm not normally much of one for retelling of biblical stories because I know how they end. But when a story is translated into such a different place and time, I can totally get into it. 

Higgs is a master story teller, creating characters that you love or hate and who surprise you. The scenes are richly painted and the tension is taut enough to keep you walking the tightrope to discover the resolution. Being the detail freak that I am, I love that Higgs includes a map of the town so I can follow the movements of the characters. The faith of the characters and the poetic quotes that start each chapter minister to my soul and stir my spirit. I don't expect a third installment of this series since the book of Ruth is complete, but I can't help missing Elisabeth and Marjory and the handsome Lord Jack. 

You can start reading chapter one of Mine Is the Night right here, but I warn you, you'll be hooked. Or watch the book trailer and see some of the countryside and town where the action takes place. you just may find yourself planning a trip to Scotland.

I am doing better about getting rid of books once I've read them, but this isn't one of those. This book is a keeper, and after Les finishes reading it, it will receive pride of place in one of the glass-fronted bookcases in our library (the room that's supposed to be the formal dining room in this house). 

It's often hard for me to part with books because I become so invested in the characters (like those in Mine Is the Night), but I am finally recognizing that I can keep every book I read.  I've been giving mine to the Ephrata Public Library. Budgets have been cut drastically for our state libraries (I'm guessing for yours too), so donations are always welcome. And if they can't use them for the shelves, they can always sell them in the bookshop or at the yearly book sale. 

What do you do with books you no longer want or simply don't have the place to store?

Chronic or Crisis? How's Your Support?

If you have a crisis in your life and need a sympathetic ear, I'm your gal. I have loads of empathy—and maybe some unasked for words of advice—for you as you deal with your problem. However, if you are still wallowing in the same problem months or even years later, I'm just not interested. I can't seem to muster up the enthusiasm to care. I find myself wondering why you're still in that place.

I'm not proud of those feelings. I'm just telling you how I am. I have a short attention span for pain and problems. I would never make it as a therapist.

So is it ironic or simply a lesson in maturity from God that I have a chronic illness? Maybe it's both. I've actually had this illness for 24 years, but when it only flared up once in 4 or 7 or even 11 years, it wasn't a big deal. It didn't feel chronic; it felt like a crisis. I would be incapacitated, even hospitalized. I would be given large doses of steroids. And it would be over, and I would be back to life as I knew it.

Now life as I know it includes chronic symptoms or, at least, daily medicine to keep chronic symptoms at bay. I have to make decisions around it, choosing what I can and can't do. It's rare for it not to come up in conversation. And yet I am very fortunate in how much I can do as I learn from the daily lives of others dealing with chronic illness.

Just like when you buy a new car you suddenly notice that car model everywhere on the road, when you have a chronic illness you suddenly become aware of how many people have one. According to the CDC, "In 2005, 133 million Americans—almost 1 out of every 2 adults—had at least one chronic illness," and "one-fourth of people with chronic conditions have one or more daily activity limitations." That's a lot of people with problems.

Now, those numbers include those with heart disease, cancer, diabetes and even chronic back pain. It also includes autoimmune disorders (the family of disorders my illness fits in) like lupus, scleroderma, and rheumatoid arthritis. Everywhere I go lately I hear of someone having an autoimmune disease, including two pastors' wives I talked with at a meeting recently. It includes ALS (better known as Lou Gehrig's Disease), which a missionary friend of ours has been diagnosed with. The MS a dear friend has also falls into the chronic illness category.

Maybe I just never paid attention before. Or maybe it's just that people with an invisible chronic illness tend to only open up to another victim. Maybe they've met too many people like the me of the past, who got bored of their "complaints" and just wanted them to get over it.

Yet people with chronic illnesses need to talk, to share their pain. The risks of not doing so are tremendous. According to the website of National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week (which takes place in September of each year):

•  The divorce rate among the chronically ill is over 75 percent.
• Depression is 15–20% higher for the chronically ill than for the average person.
• Various studies have reported that physical illness or uncontrollable physical pain are major factors in up to 70% of suicides.

 So how can you help people dealing with a chronic illness?

• Be willing to listen (when you ask how they are and they say fine, ask again and say you really want to know).
• But also talk about things other than the illness.
• Smile.
• Provide times of laughter and fun.
• Recognize their need for rest (and don't make them feel guilty about it; they're doing that enough on their own).
• If they have kids, give them a break by taking the kids.
• Offer to clean house for them.
• Let them know about Rest Ministries, an organization that exists to encourage those dealing with chronic illness.
• Support their specific illness walk or fundraiser.
• Consider starting a Hopekeepers Group or some other support group/Bible study for those with chronic illness.
• Pray with them and for them.

I'm still not that great at long-term illness, in myself or others. But I am learning to listen, to ask the right questions. Hopefully you will, too, and hopefully without a chronic illness of your own.

And if you have other ideas on how to provide support, especially if you have a chronic illness (or a loved one does), please add a comment with your idea. Thanks.

What's a Church to Do?

You know my purpose for this blog is to help individuals discover ways they can make a difference in the world. I believe we can all do something that will improve the lives of others. Unfortunately, sometimes the "something" I really want to do is to sit back and criticize the "someone" I think should be doing something, like the government or the church or someone other than me. But I don't think that's what God has in mind.

I was staying in a hotel over the last few days and so I received USA Today on Monday. An essay entitled "America's Churches Can Help Change the World" jumped out at me. In it, Oliver Thomas talks about the concept of "cultural captivity," which often causes churches (and their members) to follow the culture rather than Christ. It's so easy to fall into that, for the culture is comfortable. (if that's not a problem for you, I'd love to hear how you avoid it being so.)

Thomas goes on to talk about the way individual churches are making a difference in their communities, and that's great. Our church hosts Angel Food distribution, collects coats and shoes for a local clothing closet, and collects food for a food bank, a veterans home, and a pregnancy center.

But Thomas wonders if churches shouldn't be doing more together to make a difference in the big issues of justice and poverty in our day. Do you see your church, your denomination, partnering with other churches to bring about positive change in the world?

After you read Thomas's article, I would love to have you post a comment telling me what your church is doing—alone or collectively—to make the world a place that more closely reflects "thy kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven." Your comment may just spur someone else to get started, or provide a way to link up with another church that is fighting the same battle. Let me hear from you!

Cause de Jour

You expect fashion to go in and out of fashion. After all, it's called fashion for a reason. But what always amazes me is how causes seem to go in and out of fashion. I mean if people are homeless in Haiti, shouldn't it be important to care until the problem is solved, not just until something new comes along?

Right now the cause de jour is human slavery. Articles and workshops are everywhere. I am not saying it's not a worthy cause. I've blogged about it myself and attended workshops. I just don't want to see it fade off the scene, like so many other causes, when something new and shiny comes along. Maybe it won't, if you and I get involved and become part of the solution.

Today I am sharing a guest blog from Diane Adams, a friend of mine, on how she got involved in working to free slaves.  Here are her thoughts:

Two years ago, I read a book called Just Courage by Gary Haugen, founder of International Justice Mission (IJM). IJM is an organization that combats injustice and modern-day slavery around the world.

After reading the book and learning about the atrocities that go on in the world, I couldn’t just go on with life as usual. I did some research and learned things like:

• There are 27 million modern-day slaves.
•  600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders each year.
•  50% of trafficking victims are minors.
•  The average age of entry in prostitution is 11 to 14 years old.

I learned that there were slaves in India working in rice mills, in Africa working in brick factories, and in the United States working in forced labor. And all around the world there were young girls, and even boys, forced into the sex trade.

As I read accounts of victims and survivors, I began to wonder—What if my teenage daughter were sex trafficked or our family lived in a developing country and was enslaved by powerful tyrants? How would I feel if no one sought and rescued me, but went on with daily life, enjoying freedom without giving any thought or concern for me, an oppressed victim?  

 I kept noticing verses in the Bible in which God is described as a god of justice and felt strongly that the Church is called to act to promote justice in our community, nation, and world. But I also think the average churchgoer, like me, is unaware of the issue of human trafficking and how widespread it is.

 I encourage people to learn more about this issue. Read a book such as Just Courage or learn from websites such as www.notforsalecampaign.org, www.ijm.org, or www.iast.net. Stay abreast of proposed U.S. legislation on this issue by visiting www.polarisproject.org and write to legislators asking their support of anti-trafficking laws.

Also, become aware of the products you buy and the businesses you patronize, being sure you are purchasing fair-trade goods not made by slave labor. Another key way to make a difference in this area is to volunteer to work with at-risk populations in the community so they don’t fall prey to traffickers. Big Brother/Big Sisters, local shelters, after-school programs, and foster care are good organizations to consider.

Finally, people can help fight slavery by financially supporting anti-trafficking organizations. There are many to choose from, and you may be surprised to find that one or two are nearby. Do some investigating and discover these local groups—you may decide to join them!

In the 1800s, the African slave trade was a huge business, integrated in the cultures, businesses, and economics of America and Europe. Yet it was abolished because people’s eyes were opened to its evilness, and they chose to speak up against it.

There is an abolition movement going on in our world today, and it’s gaining momentum. Take the time to learn more and consider how you can help fight for the oppressed.

If you would like to ask Diane any questions, please feel free to place them in the comments section and I will see that she gets them (and answers!).

This month's Fine Living Lancaster also had an informative article on modern slavery. To read it, click the link to access the PDF and go to page 78 of the PDF (76 of the actual magazine) for the article "Ending Modern Slavery." Then, like Diane, decide what you need to do to be involved. And don't give up, even when slavery is no longer the cause de jour.