by David Mandeville
My son came home with a school assignment today:
Have you ever been in a situation in which you thought you were treated unfairly? Did you do anything to solve the problem so that the unfair situation changed to a fair one in your mind? Explain what happened.
Here is David’s story:
Having donned warm clothes and buckled myself into our Jeep this morning, I grumbled in my heart while driving to a Moms in Prayer meeting. Last week I finally got myself out the door to attend for the first time, so I’m still getting used to including this commitment in my weekly schedule. My regular morning routine on weekdays is to guide the children in getting ready for school, making sure they get there in time, then coming home for aaaahhhhh…. time off.
[March 11, 2014: I plan to write more on this topic as medication has played an important role in keeping the depression beast dormant.]
Depression is a beast within. Years ago in the midst of a depressive episode I sat on the living room couch during the twilight of the day. Outside, the trees were silhouetted against an indigo sky. The depression beast ate away at where emotion and purpose should have been found within me. On my lap lay my Bible, which I was reluctant to open. How can mere words on a page help? I wondered.
“Mr. Knightley seemed to be trying not to smile; and succeeded without difficulty, upon Mrs. Elton beginning to talk to him.”
― Jane Austen, Emma
The inspiration for Hartfield, the working title of my first novel, comes from the following passage in Jane Austen’s Emma:
When Jane Au
sten wrote Northanger Abbey–her first full-length book–novels were, well, novel. Jane Austen was at the forefront of writing in a brand new literary medium. The following is her take on novels and novel writing:
“…and if a rainy morning deprived them of other enjoyments, they were still resolute in meeting in defiance of wet and dirt, and shut themselves up, to read novels together. Yes, novels; for I will not adopt that ungenerous and impolitic custom so common with novel–writers, Continue reading Jane Austen on novels
In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:4-5)
During yesterday’s sermon–which begins a series on the Gospel of John, our pastor pointed out that light and life are closely related. He went on to reference Matthew 5:14-16 when Jesus said,
You might say we’re a little different. There are so many aspen trees outdoors that we decided to bring some indoors.
“I hope his bark is worse than his bite,” Jenna stated looking at Beth’s sculpture of a snarling wolf.
“In my experience, barks can be quite damaging,” Beth responded.