Sunday, March 09, 2008

Another Entry for Women's History Month

Another woman I celebrate this month is Madeleine L'Engle. She died in September, 2007 after a long life of 88 years. Her 60 books are as varied as her interests. She wrote fantasies as a children's author (Wrinkle in Time), poetry, memoirs (Summer of the Great-grandmother) Christian inspirational books, and science essays. Her thoughts on creativity in Walking on Water have become classic reading for artists of all kinds.

Her other Christian books are often challenging, but always filled with a strong belief in God and his faithfulness. I own 17 of her books and have enjoyed them all, but I guess my favorite is The Rock That Is Higher: Story as Truth which begins with the story of her horrible car wreck in California in 1991. In that story, she reaffirms the fact in her life that God is her creator and is The Rock.

Later, she looks at the God of Scripture as the one who "refused to nuke Ninevah, even though that is what Jonah wanted; who forgave David for a staggering list of wrongdoings; who goes out on a stormy night for one lost black sheep; who throws a party when the prodigal son returns; who loves so much that he sent his only begotten son to live with us, as one of us, --to help us understand our stories--each one unique, infinitely valuable, irreplaceable."

Now that is a God I can follow and a woman I admire.

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