Jun. 1, 2007 - Emma

Last night I finished reading Emma for the first time.  It didn’t make my top ten list of best books, but I did end up enjoying it by the end.  I must confess that it was actually a very frustrating book to read.   Emma seemed to be getting herself (and others) tangled up in such a way that caused me to become tense in anticipation of whether and how it would all work out.  Was Harriet going to be spoiled forever?  What would come of the farmer she should have married?  Was there really something between this person and that, or was I just imagining it?  What mystery lies between Miss Fairfax and Frank Churchill?  Would Emma ever grow up?

I don’t normally get so agitated by all of the loose ends, but for some reason this book caused great angst and I was so relieved to finally arrive at the end of it and find that everything worked out just as I would have liked for it to end. 

It was enjoyable to witness Emma’s maturation, and I found myself like her in many ways.  Many are the foolish things that I have done in my lifetime.  I’m so thankful that I’ve grown up from the immature adolescent I was in high school.  I still look back at things I did and said with regret!  Why did I ever say that?  What provoked me to do such a silly thing?  Sigh! 

The one thing that is noticeably absent from classics like this one, is any real mention of God.  In fact, the vicar turned out to be one of the least favorable characters!  No one prays, even before meals.  There wasn’t a single mention of the Bible.  The book is totally devoid of spiritual value.  So why do we as Christians esteem it so much?  Yes, it’s a very moral book, but are goodness and morality enough?  Can you really become a mature man without Christ?  I’m sure that there are plenty of moral, upstanding people who have matured nicely without Him (by the world’s standards), but for me the only true maturity has come as I have learned to rely on Jesus more and more, day after day, step by step.  As I have grown in my understanding of His Word, I have grown in wisdom.  As I have yielded to the Holy Spirit and learned to abide in Christ, He has produced perfect fruit in me.  My Heavenly Father is continually conforming me into the image of the Son.  That is how real maturity occurs!  It’s absolutely impossible without a great deal of prayer and Bible study.   While I’ve had my share of Mr. Knightleys in my life to chastise my improper behavior, they do not replace the need for the Holy Spirit in my life (although he beautiful typified the Holy Spirit whose love for us desires us to become ever more like Christ!). 

In the end, it was an enjoyable book.  I do feel a bit more cultured having read it.  I am looking forward to watching the movie.  I will continue to enjoy the classics.  But they will never touch my heart in the way that Christian books do, for there is little of eternal value in them.  Having finished this, my third, Jane Austen book, I am even more grateful for Lamplighter books, as I contrast this highly acclaimed novel with two lesser known ones that completely captivated me and entered my heart forever:  Ishmael and Self Raised by E.D.E.N. Southworth.  These are classics that not only endure the test of time, but are of eternal significance as well!    And that makes all the difference!

Jun. 1, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Jun. 1, 2007 - Hi there friend,

Jun. 1, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Jun. 1, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Jun. 2, 2007 - Pax River thoughts, cont...

Jun. 2, 2007 - Lamplighters

Jun. 3, 2007 - my blog and Emma

Jun. 3, 2007 - that is a great question