The Wisdom of George Eliot The journey through George Eliot’s life changing novel MiddleMarch – A Study of Provincial Life begins with a look back into the young life of Saint Theresa of Avila. As a child, little Theresa and her younger brother set out from Avila to find martyrdom as a means to restore peace in the suffering country of the Moors. Eliot then quickly takes us into the hidden life of the innumerable quiet souls struggling with hard times not unlike the mystical saint. Thus, the magnificent nineteenth century writer points to the existence of the “many Theresas in our world who found for themselves no epic life; perhaps only a life of mistakes; or a tragic failure with no sacred poet and sank un-wept into oblivion.” Through the lives of the characters living in Middlemarch, Eliot shows us that “it is never too late to be…
The stories we live and those shared by loved ones shape the person we ultimately become. Epic narratives chronicling the life changing events of our forerunners emerge like a spiritual watchtower to see God’s fingerprint on our lives. As a young girl, my grandmother’s re-telling of the story of how her beloved sister (Lucimelia) tragically lost her life showed me what it means to carry a torch of love that stays lit till forever. I could not know at the time how those unforgettable remnants from long ago would help me through the immeasurable loss of my own brother James on September 11, 2001. My grandmother lived in South America and traveled to the United States whenever possible. Hence, the time we had together was limited. I was only too happy to share my room whenever she visited, usually taking place during the hottest summer months. She…
Looking back, packing for work travel always meant taking only what was absolutely necessary. I was always determined to snuggle my carry-on bag into the plane’s overhead compartment easy-peasy. Hence, clothes were packed into tiny squares nice and flat with miniscule travel size bottles used to hold almost anything else. As colleagues headed to stand-by the luggage pick-up area after reaching our destination, I was already on line to catch a cab with my nose in a book. Just like that old saying goes, “I have my nose stuck in a book just about as often as I breathe (Guillemets, Raiding Bookshelves).” That’s me – right there. Taking my books on the journey was the only exception to the one bag rule. Leaving Jane Eyre, Fyodor Dostoevsky, George Eliot and so many others behind was simply not an option. No matter where I was headed…
So many wonderful things happen in June. Nature is working its magic in visible and invisible ways. It is the time of year for taking walks in the woods; delighting in scampering red breasted robins and watching the sea bobble its waves. In June, the summer solstice quietly shifts the sunrise and sunset southward again. The sun has now taken its highest position in the sky and a harvesting “strawberry” moon holds its own place on earth. And little by little, daylight starts to decrease. At dusk, whisking fireflies arrive to illumine the darkening blanket of night. We wonder how it is that this sixth month emerged so quickly, now surrounding us with its beauty on all sides. Splendor present for just awhile. Oh happy June – is there no way that you can stay with us just a bit longer? After all, the first pitcher of lemonade has just been…
Christ tells us that “It is the Spirit who gives life. The words that I speak to you are Spirit, and they are life” (Jam 6:63). God spoke the first words, electing to use them to make himself known to us. And by the Word of Scripture, the beloved can envision all that can be known about God. God also uses his creation as the means to reveal Himself. Every blooming flower and soaring bird speaks to the nature of God’s beauty. Poetry, works of art and the giving of one’s love to another reflect his love, holiness and wonder. The Word of God is like an expectant garden waiting for searching hands to dig into its soil. The gardener sifts for the best place to plant seeds. They are left hidden beneath the soil, watered and given back to God. The expectant garden soon…
