wisdom from a children's book...

In less than two days I finished the 2nd book from Madeleine L'Engle's Time Quintet series. I simply couldn't put it down. The book is called A Wind in the Door. You may be more familiar with the first title, A Wrinkle in Time. I fully intend to read the rest of them this summer (maybe 2 more next week while on the beach!) and have been so struck by the depth of these "simple" stories. Mrs. L'Engle is liberal in her Christianity but it is fascinating to read the undertones and deeper meaning behind this story. I hope to write more about them but for now I would simply like to share an incredible quote.

It is only when we are fully rooted that we are really able to move. (p. 216)

The quote is from a very pivotal point in the book and is just so intriguing. I don't want to write too much (and risk ruining the ending for you!) but the similarity and metaphors are striking. Sporos, a Farandolae, was being encouraged to resist proceeding to the natural progression of "Deepening." Here he would join the rest of Creation. The Echthroi (the unNamers) were telling him,

We don't need to Deepen. That's only an old superstition. It's a stupid song they sing, all this Glory, glory, glory. We are the ones who are glorious. (p. 216)

It's the old lie. It's the snake telling Eve that God is holding back on her. That really He doesn't want her to be like Him. There is also such a strong connection between her characters and Christians today. I couldn't help but think of how easy it is to hold tightly to our desires for self and for "freedom." Our pride causes us to think that there is too much at stake - God simply wants to "own" us ... that He doesn't have our best intention in mind. However, true freedom can only be found when we die to self. We must lose our life to find it. God, the Creator and maker of life, is where we find true joy and living. But, like the farandolae, we've never seen true life and fear the loss. If only we truly understood that what we have now will never compare to what God has in store. As the author of Galatians says,

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13

Freedom doesn't mean that I can do what I want. It means that I can do what I was created to do. I am free to be what God has created me to be and that is something more beautiful and eternal that my worldly desires. I hope and pray God continues to grow me in this and am thankful for the reminder from unexpected sources!

As Senex says to Sporos, the unsure farandolae ... It is true, small offspring. Now that I am rooted I am no longer limited by motion. Now I may move anywhere in the universe. I sing with the stars. I dance with the galaxies. I share in the joy - and in the grief. We farae must have our part in the rhythm of the mitochondria, or we cannot be. If we cannot be, then we are not.