literature

I don't remember when I last read any part of Little Women.

That's rather unfortunate because in the time since I actually looked at the actual book, I had the misfortune of watching the flick. The one with Susan Sarandon. For a long time - until this week in fact - whenever I thought of the story, I pictured Ms. Susan in the movie. There's something feministic about her role in that movie. Feministic meaning stand for your rights, men are bad, do your own thing-type rhetoric. I guess that reasonable since Susan, from my observation, has chosen her friends, political candidates and causes that reek with such ideology.

I guess there is a time when a woman should stand up for her rights - depending on what "rights" we are discussing. A woman should do her own thing - as opposed to following the rest of the crowd doing destructive things - sometimes. And yes, some men are bad - just like some woman are bad too.

Then, we took a road trip this weekend and I borrowed the radio theatre drama of Little Women. We ended up listening to radio theatre drama The Legend of Squanto and reading another book outloud with a flashlight. But I cracked those little women open later when I was in the car.

The story resonates with a different kind of independence and bravery than Susan Sarandon gives to the film make of the story. Quite the antithesis of the actress and her ideology in fact. How about unselfishness, grace, gentleness, dependence on God and strength not even related to standing up for your rights.

That serves me right for taking the lazy way out and watching the movie instead of cracking open the book.

rescue

1. Rescue the perishing, care for the dying, snatch them in pity from sin and the grave; weep o'er the erring one, lift up the fallen, tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.

Refrain: Rescue the perishing, care for the dying; Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.

2. Though they are slighting him, still he is waiting, waiting the penitent child to receive; plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently; he will forgive if they only believe. (Refrain)

3. Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter, feelings lie buried that grace can restore; touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness, chords that were broken will vibrate once more. (Refrain)

4. Rescue the perishing, duty demands it; strength for thy labor the Lord will provide; back to the narrow way patiently win them; tell the poor wanderer a Savior has died. (Refrain)

(words by Fanny Crosby)

Sometimes I try to imagine what God must see when He looks at this world. How does His heart not completely break and how does He hold off from just making everything right, right now. These thoughts don't last long merely because my tiny mind doesn't get it.

I want things to be fixed now. I want to change the people whose kids are an afterthought, after they make time for fun times at the local dive every weekend or after they put in on their highly lucrative careers 14 hours out of the last 24.

I want all those moms who don't think they have the time for an inconvenient baby to come stay with me (they'd move out rather rapidly I suspect from the sheer noise level but maybe that'd be enough time to convince them that kids ARE good character developers and everyone needs that).

I want justice for parents who trade their little girls innocence for a little cash and the adults who carry those little ones off... well I wish really bad things would come their way. I can't take care of all the girls caught in this despicable traffiking but maybe just the ones that are close to Priya's age could be here where I could let them play all day instead of having to "entertain" vile adults with nasty appetites.

And those are just about three drops in the bucket of just the injustices done to kids. What am I doing about it?

In her book In My Hands, Irene Gut Opdyke narrates how she, a 17-year old Polish nurse in training, became a catalyst in the rescue of in an unknown number of Jews in World War II Poland. She was questioned early on how she, "just one girl" could make a difference. But by the time she was 25 years old, her name was well-known in her country for the risks she had taken to save people from extermination.

I'm nearly finished with Gary A. Haugen's account in Terrify No More of his work with International Justice Mission to free many Priya-aged girls from brothels in Cambodia.

Irene and Gary did and are doing something. Maybe I have the mistaken idea that what I'm supposed to do to help "rescue the perishing" will be book-worthy some day. In fact, maybe what I'm supposed to do won't even be short-story worthy or even mention-in-passing worthy.

But like my roommate from college reminded me a few weeks ago, if I can just save one, that will be worthy in God's eyes. I just hope I'll be willing to put my life on the line then. I just hope I'm paying attention then.

shed life

There are so many happening things that go on in the shed. There is used straw to carry from one place to another in the miniature wheelbarrow. The proper attire is especially important. Of course overalls, but most importantly the foam bead necklace. Sam made it himself after allAnd Priya had a prime opportunity to manhandle her sister into the miniature wheelbarrow and give her a ride. To which Anneka was, for a change, happy to comply. Of course overalls are important attire, but the foam bead necklace was equally important.

principles

While I was rearranging some clutter this week, I found a quote I had written down a while back credited to Dwight D. Eisenhower:

"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both."

Hmmm...

Right-handed...

....and left-handed.

Yes, I know, one must overlook that she is writing in a book with a colored pencil.

But it is a pretty cool trick for 14 months and the colored pencil was light pink.

Grandma Eisfeld would be proud - with the left-hand thing at least. Not with the writing in books.