Jeremiah does not like Mr. Andreeson, and he definitely does not want to accompany Mr. Andreeson in his search for Davy. For most people there seems to be a simple solution: do not assist Mr. Andreeson. But Jeremiah Land does not lead himself to do what seems right and best by conventional wisdom. He is a man guided through prayer. On pages 217-218 of Peace Like a River, Jeremiah “wrestles” with God in prayer through words and physicality over what he should do in regards to Mr. Andreeson. He raises his voice against God. This scene reminds me of the Biblical story of Jacob wrestling with God.
In Genesis 32:21-32, Jacob wrestles with God and receives a blessing from Him. It is interesting though what happens in verse 30 after the “wrestling match” is over: “So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, ‘For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.’” Jacob reveals in this statement that it is an extraordinary thing to have seen God and lived. It shows the level of fear that he had toward God, knowing that he is blessed even to be alive after what had occurred. Isaiah, in Isaiah 6, responds likewise with an attitude of fear at the presence of God, exclaiming that he should be dead in His presence. Similarly in Peace Like a River, Roxanna responds with an attitude much like Jacob and Isaiah. “At this Roxanna covered her mouth, for it occurred to her with Whom he wrestled. Having long ago accepted the fact of God, Roxanna had not conceived of going toe to toe with Him over any particular concern” (217-218). This is the type of response I would have. Who could possibly wrestle with the living God? Who would dare face the Creator of the Universe? Yet in the Biblical story of Jacob we see a man do it, and in this scene from Peace Like a River we see a man do it. The final question then that is raised in my mind is this: How must a man know God to be willing to wrestle with Him?
Enger, Leif. Peace Like A River. New York: Grove Press, 2001. Print.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Dogs Don't Go To Heaven
“How many times does a dog have to bite before you put him down?” (36). This was Davy’s question.
Two guys attempted to molest a girl he liked, they vandalized his front door, and they took his little sister from their home. What else would they have to do to before Davy’s father felt it was time to pursue some form of justice? Shouldn’t they do something to keep these guys away? How many more times would these two guys have to “bite” before they were put down? Why did Davy’s father not seem to be as upset by the situation as Davy? This situation reminds me of another man who had a similar question as Davy: Peter.
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’” (Matt. 18: 21)
Peter seemed to be thinking the same thing as Davy: “this person did something bad to me, why don’t we retaliate?” Davy’s father and Jesus both had great things to say about this though. First, Davy’s father makes the statement that they had already won despite the way everything appeared, showing the victory that we all have in Christ. Then, “Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.’” (Matt. 18:22). Jesus said not to retaliate or even to hold a grudge, but to love and forgive.
The thing that intrigues me most though is not directly found in the previous passage or in the father’s explanation. The thing that intrigues me is that these two bad men are not Christians, so is it ever ok to “put down these dogs if they bite enough.” Nate Saint and Jim Elliot were part of a famous 5-man mission team that died at the hands of a hostile Indian tribe in Ecuador they were trying to reach. They had guns, but they did not use them against the Indians even for self defense. They decided ahead of time that they would under no circumstances use their weapons against the Indians because the Indians were not prepared for heaven but the missionaries were. No matter how many times the dogs bite, they should not be put down because dogs don’t go to heaven.
Enger, Leif. Peace Like A River. New York: Grove Press, 2001. Print.
Two guys attempted to molest a girl he liked, they vandalized his front door, and they took his little sister from their home. What else would they have to do to before Davy’s father felt it was time to pursue some form of justice? Shouldn’t they do something to keep these guys away? How many more times would these two guys have to “bite” before they were put down? Why did Davy’s father not seem to be as upset by the situation as Davy? This situation reminds me of another man who had a similar question as Davy: Peter.
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’” (Matt. 18: 21)
Peter seemed to be thinking the same thing as Davy: “this person did something bad to me, why don’t we retaliate?” Davy’s father and Jesus both had great things to say about this though. First, Davy’s father makes the statement that they had already won despite the way everything appeared, showing the victory that we all have in Christ. Then, “Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.’” (Matt. 18:22). Jesus said not to retaliate or even to hold a grudge, but to love and forgive.
The thing that intrigues me most though is not directly found in the previous passage or in the father’s explanation. The thing that intrigues me is that these two bad men are not Christians, so is it ever ok to “put down these dogs if they bite enough.” Nate Saint and Jim Elliot were part of a famous 5-man mission team that died at the hands of a hostile Indian tribe in Ecuador they were trying to reach. They had guns, but they did not use them against the Indians even for self defense. They decided ahead of time that they would under no circumstances use their weapons against the Indians because the Indians were not prepared for heaven but the missionaries were. No matter how many times the dogs bite, they should not be put down because dogs don’t go to heaven.
Enger, Leif. Peace Like A River. New York: Grove Press, 2001. Print.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Oranges
In the poem “Oranges” by Gary Soto, the two oranges that the young boy begins the poem with have very rich symbolism. At every major point of his journey, the oranges add a strong degree of meaning. Before we look at the specific symbolic meaning of the oranges in this text though, we must first look at the general use of oranges as a symbol. The online Dictionary of Symbolism constructed by Allison Protas has this to say about oranges: “Like many fruits, the orange has become predominantly a symbol of fertility; if it is depicted in Paradise, it is the fruit of the Fall, occasionally replacing the apple as the Forbidden fruit. As a color, orange is most often linked to flame and fire, conveying their qualities. Orange can also mean luxury.” Some of this symbolism finds itself in Gary Soto’s poem. Although there is nothing related to fertility in this poem, it is about a relationship between a boy and a girl, which makes it suitable for this story. Probably most significant is the idea that “orange is most often linked to flame and fire, conveying their qualities,” because at the end of this poem, the young boy states that:
I peeled my orange
That was so bright against
The gray of December
That, from some distance,
Someone might have thought
I was making a fire in my hands. (1051)
There is also some symbolism in this poem that relies on the context of the poem to determine. The poem begins with the boy saying that he was “cold and weighted down with two oranges in my jacket” (1051). The oranges are symbolic of his feelings. All of us have experienced the nervousness of being with someone that we liked just as this twelve year old boy is experiencing it here. The second time the oranges provide rich symbolism is in the drugstore. His desire to impress the girl is expressed by his confident presentation of an orange to the cashier. When the cashier accepts the orange as payment from him, the orange instantly gains significant worth. It now symbolizes his success in impressing his girl. As they walk home and he begins peeling the remaining orange, it is no longer simply an orange but a symbol of determination, affection, and success.
Protas, Allison. Dictionary of Symbolism. n.p., n.d. Web. 21 March 2011.
Soto, Gary. “Oranges.” The Literary Experience. Ed. Beiderwell, Bruce and Jeffrey M. Wheeler. Boston: Thomson Wadsworth, 2008. 1051. Print.
I peeled my orange
That was so bright against
The gray of December
That, from some distance,
Someone might have thought
I was making a fire in my hands. (1051)
There is also some symbolism in this poem that relies on the context of the poem to determine. The poem begins with the boy saying that he was “cold and weighted down with two oranges in my jacket” (1051). The oranges are symbolic of his feelings. All of us have experienced the nervousness of being with someone that we liked just as this twelve year old boy is experiencing it here. The second time the oranges provide rich symbolism is in the drugstore. His desire to impress the girl is expressed by his confident presentation of an orange to the cashier. When the cashier accepts the orange as payment from him, the orange instantly gains significant worth. It now symbolizes his success in impressing his girl. As they walk home and he begins peeling the remaining orange, it is no longer simply an orange but a symbol of determination, affection, and success.
Protas, Allison. Dictionary of Symbolism. n.p., n.d. Web. 21 March 2011.
Soto, Gary. “Oranges.” The Literary Experience. Ed. Beiderwell, Bruce and Jeffrey M. Wheeler. Boston: Thomson Wadsworth, 2008. 1051. Print.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Repaying Mother
The poem “Lanyard” speaks to every individual who has had a loving mother. It evokes memories in all of us of the ridiculous gifts we gave our moms that seemed to mean so much to them. It draws all of us in and invites us to look back to see the truth about our mothers’ love.
I remember when I was young how I used to admire so greatly the professional hallmark cards. To me they seemed like such a great gift for my mother’s birthday because they were far beyond the artistic beauty that I could have ever mustered. But my Dad told my siblings and I to make a card for our mother instead. I remember thinking at the time that my dad just did not want to spend the money, which may have been partially true, but the impact that the homemade card had on my mother was much more significant than hallmark could ever have created. It seemed as though all of the pain of child bearing, all the sacrifice for our comfort, and all the gifts she gave us were all worth that moment. All her love to us was returned in that one act of ours. It was as if the magnitude of all she had done for us was given back to her in the same measure, just as Matthew 4:24 says, “with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
This poem really just made me reflect on the love of a mother. With selflessness she toils and endures pain for her children. Her acts of love are innumerable. Yet because of the selfless nature of that love, she expects nothing in return. To her a score of 100-0 appears even. So when something is given in return, she feels as though she has received a gift and is blessed far more than the children she blesses. This also made me think of the selfless love of Christ. Because of the nature of his grace, nothing we can do for Him is sufficient to repay Him, but He doesn’t care – He just loves us.
I remember when I was young how I used to admire so greatly the professional hallmark cards. To me they seemed like such a great gift for my mother’s birthday because they were far beyond the artistic beauty that I could have ever mustered. But my Dad told my siblings and I to make a card for our mother instead. I remember thinking at the time that my dad just did not want to spend the money, which may have been partially true, but the impact that the homemade card had on my mother was much more significant than hallmark could ever have created. It seemed as though all of the pain of child bearing, all the sacrifice for our comfort, and all the gifts she gave us were all worth that moment. All her love to us was returned in that one act of ours. It was as if the magnitude of all she had done for us was given back to her in the same measure, just as Matthew 4:24 says, “with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
This poem really just made me reflect on the love of a mother. With selflessness she toils and endures pain for her children. Her acts of love are innumerable. Yet because of the selfless nature of that love, she expects nothing in return. To her a score of 100-0 appears even. So when something is given in return, she feels as though she has received a gift and is blessed far more than the children she blesses. This also made me think of the selfless love of Christ. Because of the nature of his grace, nothing we can do for Him is sufficient to repay Him, but He doesn’t care – He just loves us.
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