“In the first 10 pages…

I laughed, I cried, and I thought.”  Those are the compelling arguments my daughter gave me for reading “The Help”.  So I read it.  I think it should be read.  It should be enjoyed.  More than that, however, I believe it should be thought about.

 

 

I am not sure how to move these pictures around, but I thought it was interesting to see the different covers.  Mine had the picture of the three birds. I didn’t think about the significance of them at all.  Just read the book as I was told.  It just happened to be available at the library.  To be quite honest, I didn’t realize the other covers existed.  I am still pondering the significance of the three birds.   I judge books by their cover and I know I passed by the birds several times at the library, even though others had read and recommended it to me.  The maids and their charge would have made me pick it up sooner.

However, that’s not the question I want to ask myself now that the book has been returned, 3 days late, to the library.  What I want to ask is this:  “How did it change me?”  What difference does it make in my life?  Is this how I think of others in my life? 

There is one sentence that sticks out in the book, although I can’t find the scrap of paper I copied it down on.  It comes nearer the end of the book and Minnie and Aibileen are discussing domestic violence.  The gist of it is that we have lines – boundaries.  Things that we will or will not do.  Borders that we give to our behaviors.  And often, without even thinking about it, we adopt the lines of others.

Last week I was privileged to hear a sermon at South Calgary Community Churchon love.  Here’s the link to the sermon page,

http://www.southcalgary.org/rakbase/sermon/sermonList.php and it’s the sermon for October 16.  The questions I need to ask about my lines is this:  Are they drawn by love? by fear? by selfishness? by anger? Am I even aware of some of the lines I’ve drawn in my life?  Can I, once I’ve seen the lines I’ve drawn in the sands of my life, evaluate them and re-draw them based on love?

Anyways, I read the book. It did make me laugh, cry and think, just like Emma said it would.

And if you want to know what was in the pie…I’m not telling!

Have a blessed Sabbath!

Marcia