Count of Monte Cristo - 1

Not long ago, Dave and I watched the DVD of The Count of Monte Cristo, and ever since I've been wanting to read the novel. I saw glimmerings of a Christian perspective on forgiveness in the movie and wondered if that perspective might be more visible in the novel.

I picked up an old copy from the public library last evening. It's 2 1/4 inches thick! I measured it. And the small print is in an archaic serif font that is difficult to read, but I'm enjoying it tremendously already. It's fun to compare the book with the movie.

Dumas, like all authors of his day, tells his readers much that they could figure out for themselves, and this undoubtedly makes modern English professors cringe (if they read such books). I find it easy to overlook being told which characters are good and which ones are bad since I get caught up in the story.

So far the character of the main villian is quite different from the movie portrayal, but I'm only up to chapter five. An important difference is that the novel clearly depicts the relationship between Dantes and Mercedes as pure. That kind of destroys a big surprise element of the movie.

I hope I can find time to read the 66 chapters with their 649 pages over the next couple of weeks!

Walking

Today began satisfyingly with devotions on the deck, followed by an hour-long walk.

It’s so humid that the seat of my shorts became clammy from the damp deck bench. There was so much pollen hanging in the hollow where the road crosses our creek that I felt as if I were breathing syrup. And, even though the sky was clear and there was no fog as I walked beside the river, objects on the other bank were obscured by a heavy gray haze.

I am walking not so much to maintain my health as to reclaim it. Even though I safeguard my early morning hours for writing, I believe I must somehow also make time for the regular exercise that I hope will alleviate some of my joint pain.

And announcing my plan publicly on this blog forces a measure of accountability, even if no one is reading this.

Iowa Letters

My recent reading includes Iowa Letters, a volume of correspondence between Dutch immigrants and their friends who remained in the Netherlands.

Having four grandparents who emigrated from the Netherlands and having lived within the Pella Dutch community all my life, I found the collection fascinating. But the appeal of these letters transcends biological or geographical ties. Like all good writing, these letters touch the common chord of human experience. Any modern reader can empathize with the struggles of these writers, but Reformed Christians will particularly identify with their humble belief in God’s sovereignty.

These letters also reflect some differences that will soon become apparent to modern readers. The letters display a graciousness literary quality that is nearly absent from today’s communications. The language is polite, repeatedly addressing readers in elevated terms such as “esteemed brother and sister” and “your honors.” Carefully constructed sentences and transitions create a rich style that contrasts vividly with today’s instant messaging paucity.

Written in the not so distant past before the advent of antibiotics and anesthetics, these letters also reflect a keener familiarity with death than that found in our society. Incredibly, one young couple buries twelve of their fourteen children. If this were fiction, any good editor would revise it to be more believable.

Yet through all these trials, the writers continue to confess their belief in a gracious and sovereign God. Their letters echo biblical language. Their great joys are faithful preaching and the communion of the saints.

Reflecting on this makes me think, especially on the Lord’s Day, about what activities I enjoy and what I am willing to invest in relationships. And it creates a new sense of urgency in crafting writing that excels in literary quality. Most of all, it fills me with praise for our sovereign God who transcends all barriers of time and place.

Casablanca

Last night Dave and I stayed up too late watching Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in our frequently-viewed copy of the original black and white Casablanca. We've watched the color-enhanced version, but we feel the colors detract from the artistic use of shadow and light that makes the original so marvelous. Of course, the acting and script contribute a lot to the overall experience. Each time I watch it, I sympathize with Ilsa's believable confusion and cheer Rick's decision to do what is right in the end. The acting, the plot, and the cinematography make this film one of my all-time favorites.

Vision

Uni-ball makes this fabulous line of pens called "Vision Elite" that I've been using for some time. But yesterday, while I was browsing through Staples on my afternoon of vacation to celebrate the summer solstice, I discovered them in "Super Fine"! Every time I used my earlier version, I thought: "This is a wonderful pen, but I wish it wrote in narrower lines."

I am ashamed to admit that I bought a pack of four as well as a set of eight "assorted ink" in a closeable plastic pouch. The only complaint I have so far is that the two blues look remarkably similar, but that hardly qualifies as a complaint.

It's said that the pen is mightier than the sword, and I can hardly wait to wield my new writing weapons!

Summer Solstice

The first day of summer is one of my favorite days of the year. My love for the light was reinforced this morning as I enjoyed a devotional by Chris Donato that appeared in the April 2005 issue of Tabletalk by Ligonier Ministries.

In "The Lord of Light and Love," Donato talks about the misconception of God as a "grandfatherly, cuddly type" when He is actually "a blazing glory...a glaring light, devouring flame, burning bush, pillar of fire." Pagans worshipped the created sun and moon instead of the Creator God, Who is Light. Donato sees God as light in two ways: revelation and holiness. The revealed truth of God is light and the absolute perfection of God is light.

It's more than today's warm temperatures and sunshine that cause me to appreciate the summer solstice. The longest day of light brings to mind the eternal day of the New Jerusalem, where there will be no sun or moon, no gates barred against the evils of the night, because the Lamb will be the city's light and there will be no night.

Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Advent

Having finally bitten the blogging bullet, I gingerly enter cyberealm.

My reluctance has been due to two primary factors: intimidation and presumption.

Scanning existing blogs has done little to encourage me and much to intimidate me. Many are written by extremely intelligent and articulate writers. Reading them, I am overwhelmed by my own lack of wit and my incapacity for creativity.

Creating a blog also seems incredibly presumptuous. The very act of initiating a blog presumes that someone, somewhere, will be interested enough in what you have to say to actually bother to visit your blog and read it.

The primary reason I begin blogging is to put thumbscrews into my commitment to write regularly. My hope is that writing for an audience will help keep my regular musings from degenerating into a self-pitying litany.