The Top Ten Books I Read in 2024

Image by Tom from Pixabay

Around this time of year, I often see posts or articles about the top books that people read. I have received multiple useful suggestions from such lists, often regarding books I may have otherwise never heard about. My desire is that the following list of my favorite reads of this year would do the same for others.

(Please note, this post contains affiliate links)

1. Bread and Wine: Readings for Lent and Easter compiled by Plough Publishers

I did not know what to expect from this book but was pleasantly surprised. Through the selection of writing from a variety of writers, I was immersed in thoughts about Jesus’ sacrifice and His resurrection. This included meditations from writers like C. S. Lewis, G. K. Chesterton, Amy Carmichael, Edith Stein, Frederick Buechner, Philip Yancey, and many others. I came away from the book with a deeper understanding of how Christ’s death and resurrection radically changes all areas of life – even in regard to issues I had not fully considered before. For example, I found myself challenged through this devotional, and other books I read this year, to reconsider what I believe about issues like war and helping those in poverty. There were many areas that convicted me, as well as selections that made me pause and praise the Lord for all He has done. I place this one at the top of the list because of the Christ-centered content and the gems of writers hidden within – a beloved resource I will be using for years to come.   

2. Emily of New Moon by L. M. Montgomery

This second place in this list actually goes to the entire Emily series. As a fan of Anne of Green Gables, I was excited to read other stories by L. M. Montgomery, and I was not disappointed. The characters and setting in Emily of New Moon and the other two books are interesting and lifelike. For Mongomery’s artistry shines through in the way she crafts the scenes with humor and heart. By the end, I felt like I had visited Emily at her home and met Aunt Elizabeth, Aunt Laura, and Cousin Jimmy. And I found myself identifying more with Emily than I had with Anne (even though I am a great fan of Anne), but that will likely differ depending on the reader. Her struggles and failures as a writer were relatable to me.

My favorite book in the series would have to be Emily Climbs because of her adventures in writing and her hilarious interactions with Aunt Ruth. Although the other aunts are endearing, Aunt Ruth will continue to live on in my memory!

I mentioned Emily Climbs in an earlier blog post, which you can read here: “Loving Our Neighbors as Writers”

3. This Beautiful Truth by Sarah Clarkson

I first heard about Sarah Clarkson a year ago while listening to a podcast by Renovaré. They interviewed her about her struggle with OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) and how she found restored hope through noticing the beauty that God placed around her. After hearing that interview, I intended to purchase her book This Beautiful Truth, which I finally did this year. And I am so glad I did! Sarah is a wonderful writer and draws readers into the story of her life. She deals honestly with the darkness without neglecting the Light. I found her approach to the problem of suffering and evil refreshing. She brings the reader’s focus back to the larger picture of the Great Story – that the Lord originally created the world good, but man’s sin brought in destruction. The Lord Jesus came into this broken world to redeem it, which He accomplished through His death and resurrection. And one day, He will return to restore all creation.

Sarah’s words show us that there is terrible suffering and pain in the world. We should not ignore, minimize, or argue away the darkness. However, beauty is still present, and through this beauty we receive reminders of hope and love. Evil and death do not have the final say.

I enjoyed this book immensely, which is why I now follow Sarah Clarkson’s Substack called From the Vicarage. If you are looking for book recommendations, she is a great source. Also, she has written other books including Book Girl and Reclaiming Quiet which I am looking forward to obtaining and reading.  

4. The Complete Fairy Tales by George MacDonald

George MacDonald is known as the father of modern fantasy. So, when I was preparing for my thesis focused on fantasy literature, I meant to read some of MacDonald’s works. That did not happen, and I was unable to include him in my thesis. But this year, I was finally introduced to George MacDonald through The Princess and the Goblin and The Complete Fairy Tales.

Although some readers might assume his stories are only for children, he wrote for both adults and kids. The fairy tales contain whimsical and serious themes. We find, for instance, a princess who is cursed to spend her days floating, except for when she is underwater. However, The Light Princess, for all its lighthearted magic, is a weighty story that conveys the gospel message. Many of his other works also convey strong biblically-related messages.

My favorites were The Light Princess, The Golden Key, The Wise Woman, and The History of Photogen and Nycteris. Many of the details and images in the stories capture his literary craftsmanship. I could feel Nycteris’ longing to see the sun, and Rosamond’s desperate desire in The Wise Woman to bring forth life instead of death. MacDonald accomplished the writer’s goal – to make people feel.  

Of course, I do not agree with every area of MacDonald’s theology, but his fairy tales are masterfully written and convey powerful messages that glorify Christ. His other works, including Phantastes, are on my list of books to read.

5. When the Sea Turned to Silver by Grace Lin

Drawing from Chinese folklore and fairy tales, this book follows the story of Pinmei and Yishan as they search for the luminous stone. Pinmei, who was accustomed to hearing her grandmother tell the old stories, assumed that the tales were just that – stories. But gradually through their travels, the stories come alive. This book shows the power that stories have in life, through connecting us with others and by preserving memories.

When the Sea Turned to Silver is the third book in a series by Grace Lin, which began with her award-winning Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Not only is the book beautifully written, but it is also lovely in adornment with Grace Lin’s illustrations. I appreciate how these stories sprang from the author’s own experience with loss, and how she used grief to bring new life through this book and the others in the series.

6. The Arrow and the Crown by Emma C. Fox

This book reads like a fairy tale, which fits the theme of many other books I read this year. The Arrow and the Crown has all the enchantment of the old tales: a magical forest, a person under a spell who is forced to transform into a beast, a prince hidden in the forest, talking trees. Anna discovers that the feared Grünwald Forest is not what it seems, and secrets are hidden deep within. All these elements combine to create a magical adventure that reminds readers that light is stronger than darkness, and love is greater than any force of evil. 

What stood out to me the most was that this was a well-designed independently published book, which is something I do not typically encounter. Careful thought was placed in the layout of the book, with lovely illustrations at the beginning of the chapters. She also includes a pronunciation guide at the end of the book – which any fantasy reader will appreciate. I have read other indie books in the past, but this one set itself apart in design, quality, and storytelling.  

Emma C. Fox is an author to keep on your radar, as she will surely continue to write engaging stories. Her most recent book is The Carver and the Queen, another story that draws on old fairy and folk tales. 

7. Too Small a World: The Life of Mother Frances Cabrini by Theodore Maynard

I had not heard of Mother Cabrini until this year through the promotional trailers of Cabrini by Angel Studios. The short clips intrigued me, and I decided to read Theodore Maynard’s biography of Mother Frances Cabrini. Not only did the story of this woman’s life inspire me, but I also appreciated the way Maynard told her story. No dry lists of dates or endless historical details. He brings the audience into Cabrini’s world. The opening chapter was enough to capture my attention by reading about her arrival in New York along with other nuns to work among the poor Italian immigrants of Five Points.

There are parts that I do not agree with in terms of doctrinal differences since Cabrini was a Roman Catholic. However, there is a lot that Christians everywhere, regardless of denomination or tradition, can learn from her and celebrate. She demonstrated in her life what it means to love Christ by loving “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40). Those of us from Western contexts need this reminder to serve those who society has deemed unneeded and undesirable – like refugees, immigrants, and the poor. We need the example of Cabrini, especially now with numerous lies and myths about immigrants being propagated online and on social media.   

Faith is at the heart of this biography, as it tells the story of a woman who trusted in the Lord to do all things.      

8. An Eagle in the Snow by Michael Morpurgo

I wrote about this book in a post that included thoughts about Morpurgo’s story set in World War I. An Eagle in the Snow is based on the premise that a soldier (Billy) unknowingly spared the life of Hitler in the first World War. If he could go back and change it, would he? And if Billy had the opportunity to finish the deed, could he do it?

Tied into this book are strong themes about the power of mercy as Morpurgo raises ethical questions about life, war, and justice. These are not only questions that apply to the characters in the story but are also for us today. Do we believe that there is more power in showing mercy than in taking a life, and if so, how will that affect our choices and views?

Michael Morpurgo is a master storyteller, which is evident in the way he sets the scenes of the story. The opening chapter brings us into the perspective of a young boy and his mother on a train. Readers identify with this little family as they travel and hear the story of the mysterious passenger about the life of Billy.

Many other books have been written by Morpurgo, such as the well-loved War Horse and An Elephant in the Garden among others. These stories shatter the romance and glory that many people associate with war, showing instead how ordinary people are tragically impacted in ways that change their lives forever.    

9. The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

What does it mean to follow Jesus?

Bonhoeffer’s classic and most well-known work sets out to answer this question. He saw that many within the German church had bought into the lie of “cheap grace.” This is an empty grace in which a person is not changed, and no fruit exists in their life. The German church needed this reminder, but so does the modern church. In many ways, people continue to want to have the comfort of religion without recognizing the cost of salvation – the price Jesus paid with His life, and the costly life of discipleship He calls us to. 

For me, the greatest part of the book was Bonhoeffer’s exposition of the Sermon on the Mount. Through this passage, he walked readers through what it looks like to be a disciple. To be a follower of Christ means thirsting and hungering for righteousness, keeping our eyes on Jesus, living peacefully and pursuing peace, and combatting evil with good. There were times when I could not help but wonder about Bonhoeffer’s own decisions when reading about what he believed Jesus taught about fighting evil with good, especially regarding his involvement in the plot to assassinate Hitler. However, I greatly appreciated this book and recommend it to believers seeking to grow in their relationship with Christ. 

Be forewarned – it is a convicting and challenging read.   

10. Women Who Risk: Secret Agents for Jesus in the Muslim World by Tom and JoAnn Doyle

An inspiring book that takes readers to various places across the Middle East and introduces them to Muslim women who learn the truth that they are loved and cherished by Jesus. After coming to know Him and His love, they cannot help but use their lives to make Him known throughout the Muslim world. They risk everything to follow Christ.   

Some believers from Western countries may struggle with the stories about Muslims encountering Jesus through dreams. I understand that many Christians think that such stories are an infringement on the final authority of the Bible. However, we must remember that people in the Middle East who are having these dreams come from highly restricted backgrounds with no access to the gospel. Their culture also places an emphasis on dreams. Can Jesus not use anything to accomplish His purpose, even dreams if needed? We should praise the Lord that many Muslims are seeking out the Good News after having a vision or dream about the Savior.

Overall, the examples of these women are convicting. In the West, we are not at risk of being killed by our family and neighbors for following Jesus or sharing the gospel. Yet, these women are in dangerous contexts and are actively making disciples. What is stopping us from doing the same?   

Honorable Mentions:

• A Horse Named Sky by Rosanne Parry
• Thou Givest, They Gather: Truths Gleaned from the Word of God by Amy Carmichael
• A Blossom in the Desert: Reflections of Faith in the Art and Writings of Lilias Trotter by Miriam Huffman Rockness

Suggested Resources for Finding More Books to Read:

If you are like me and are always on the lookout for good books to read, then there are a few websites and organizations I suggest following. These include:

• Anselm Society
• Randy Alcorn’s Blog on Eternal Perspective Ministries
• Renovare
• Sarah Clarkson’s From the Vicarage
• The Rabbit Room

May your New Year be filled with books that point you to the Great Story of Jesus’ love! 

The Strength of Mercy

 

Image by Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay

I have been reading Michael Morpurgo’s stories for over a decade now, and what I appreciate most about his works is that they make me think about important issues. A lot of his books deal with war, such as in Toro! Toro! or the classic War Horse. And although these stories are works of fiction, they are based on historical events. I have been personally challenged to reevaluate my beliefs about war after reading Morpurgo’s stories.

An Eagle in the Snow is another such book. War is a major aspect of the story, and we see depictions of the suffering that the killings and bombings caused during both world wars. But more than anything, I believe an overarching theme in this story is the strength of mercy.

The book follows the story of Billy (based on a real soldier in WWI named William Tandey). In the story, he spares the life of a German soldier after a successful attack. So many men had already died that day, on both sides, and he did not think the man was a threat. Many years later, though, he realizes that the man he had spared was none other than Adolf Hitler. He becomes consumed with guilt over his part in allowing Hitler to live and cause terrible suffering. Eventually, this drives him to create a new plan – one which involves doing what he thinks he should have done earlier. To kill Hitler.

But even then, he cannot do it.

The reader is left to decide what he or she thinks about Billy’s choice. Was he right in showing mercy? Should we fight evil with evil, or is mercy and a dedication to goodness more powerful?

Too often, I think people view compassion and mercy as weaknesses. We might be tempted to read the story of Billy and assume he was a coward. Surely, the hero should slay the villain!

Often, they do. As I thought about this story, though, I could not help but think of another story with themes of mercy, written by a man who served in WWI and lived through both wars. I am reminded of how, in J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, Frodo regretted Bilbo’s sparing of Gollum’s life. He was convinced that Bilbo should have killed the terrible creature when he had the chance. But then Gandalf shares his wisdom.

As he says, “Pity? It was Pity that stayed his hand. Pity, and Mercy: not to strike without need … Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends. I have not much hope that Gollum can be cured before he dies, but there is a chance of it. And he is bound up with the fate of the Ring. My heart tells me that he has some part to play yet, for good or ill, before the end; and when that comes, the pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many – yours not least” (Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring, 65-66).

Did Hitler, like Gollum, deserve death? Yes, but as Gandalf said, there are many who deserve to die but live. Evil people often thrive in the world while those who seek to do right die. The real question is what are we to do with the evil we see around us? We can either multiply it by choosing to fight evil with evil or seek to do good with the time we have been given. To cultivate healing and light in our broken, dark world.

There is more strength and virtue in showing mercy than in demonstrating force. The mercy that held Billy’s hand that day was the same mercy that made him pause and help a girl affected by the war when he was a soldier. And to help his friends when they were injured. Likewise, the pity of Bilbo influenced Frodo, who came to pity Gollum, and even Saurman and Wormtongue.

Of course, we should not remain silent about evil but name it for what it is. We need to speak up against injustice and oppression, serving as a voice for the voiceless. However, we are meant to overcome evil with good. As 1 Peter 3:9 says, “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing” (NIV).

Choosing to show mercy is an act of defying the darkness in the world. It does not make us weak. Rather, mercy is a strength of those who dare to believe that doing good and showing Christlike love is more powerful than any evil in the world.  

 

Works Cited

Morpurgo, Michael. An Eagle in the Snow. Square Fish, 2015.

Tolkien, J. R. R. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Del Rey, 2012.

 

 

  

 

Music and Story - The State of Modern Christian Art

 Image by Free Fun Art from Pixabay

    The past few posts have examined how music and story overlap. Songs influence writers, and the created works of authors have impacted music. Another area where music and story meet is in the discussion of modern Christian music and literature.

    People from mainstream and Christian circles criticize Christian art, including music and literary forms. For example, numerous forums exist online arguing that most contemporary Christian music is cheesy. Others claim that these musicians lack creativity and artful expression. As Emily Hughes wrote in an article for Musical Mum, “Most [Christian musicians] are repetitive and lack the depth and creativity that secular artists often display.”

    The same is true of modern Christian literature, especially Christian fiction. Many individuals insist that the fiction books created by Christians lack depth and insight or read like a sermon. They criticize writers who do not use profanity and lament that works of Christian art are too clean and unrelated to the experiences of modern people.

    While I acknowledge that lots of the critiques of Christian art often seek to provide constructive feedback and ideas for improvement, such as the article by Emily Hughes, a lot of these judgments fail to recognize that there are numerous examples of believers who are making beautiful, true, and good pieces of art. They might not be as popular or well-known as mainstream artists, but they do exist. Should we dismiss all Christian artists if there are a few bland musicians and writers? And should we think art has no purpose or worth if it is created by a Christian with the intent to “say something?”

    I argue, no. In fact, believers in Jesus are in the position to create the best and most beautiful work because they are redeemed and devoted to serving Christ. Who else is better suited to create art that is beautiful, true, and good than someone who knows the One who is the Truth and is most beautiful and good? Scripture also encourages us to think about what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy, which provides us with opportunities to create truly beautiful art (Philippians 4:8).  

    For artists who know Jesus, the task is not to erase any reference or mention to faith or truth, but to merge the virtues of beauty, truth, and goodness in unity. As Andrew Peterson wrote in Adorning the Dark, a proper approach to Christian art is not about avoiding an agenda in our art (many Christians do have an agenda when writing books or songs; they want to incorporate a truth or point to Christ), but to ensure that we do not neglect beauty (84-85). The place where artists can “go wrong is when we tilt the scales away from grace, or beauty, or excellence, as if truth were all that mattered” (86).

    More Christians need to focus on combining these virtues into their art. However, there are already numerous Christians who are creating excellent art. Andrew Peterson has created works that resonate with many people. His young adult fantasy series, The Wingfeather Saga, is popular among Christians and non-Christians because it tells a gripping story. He follows his advice of promoting truth, but also telling a story with excellence and beauty.

    Another author, Christine Cohen, a finalist for the 2020 Christie Award, has also succeeded in creating delightful stories that are compelling and well-written. One such story is a fantasy novel, The Winter King. Although she might not neatly fall into the Christian fiction or mainstream category, her works convey significant themes through well-written characters and plots. As the director of the MFA program for New Saint Andrews College, she sees craft and biblical truth as equally important in the work of an author. On the college’s blog, she is quoted as saying, “Technical proficiency must be paired with a firm commitment to Scripture as the authoritative and inerrant Word of God.”

    The same is true of music. There are a multitude of artists who are creating works of truth with emotional depth and creativity. Some of these songwriters and bands may not label themselves as “Christian artists,” but their music conveys biblical themes and truth. Others do place themselves under the genre of Christian music but are challenging what it looks like to make music as believers. They deal more openly with struggles and questions in life.

    The following playlist serves as a representation of these types of musicians. Each section highlights a specific theme, including emotional depth, creativity, desire for justice, authentic praise, honesty, and hope.      

    Of course, this does not mean that combining truth, beauty, and goodness is easy. At times, musicians and writers could be tempted to compromise one of the areas in favor of the others. I believe this is why Christians lean so much toward truth instead of keeping a balance of all three virtues. Often, biblical truth is what individuals forsake or neglect to appear relevant. We have all heard of Christian artists who “left the faith” or compromised biblical teachings. The temptation to appease the world is strong. For instance, I struggled to decide to include Page CXVI (named after the page number in C. S. Lewis's The Magician’s Nephew when Aslan sings Narnia into existence) on the playlist because of their current support of unbiblical theology. Since their early works focused on modernizing hymns for the younger generation, though, I decided to include them as an example of what believers can do when they work together to create art that glorifies God.

    We need more Christian artists who are committed to following Jesus and developing excellence in their craft. However, we should not overlook that there are already many who are doing just that. Critics will continue to bemoan the artistic work of believers, but a great deal of literature and music they are creating is beautiful, true, and good. For Christians know the Lord, the Author of everything beautiful, true, and good in the world. The more we grow closer to Him, the more we will create works of art that glorify Him.

Works Cited

Hughes, Emily. “Why Is Christian Music So Cheesy?” Musical Mum, 28 Sept. 2022, Why Is Christian Music So Cheesy? - Musical Mum.  

“NSA Announces Author Christine Cohen as Director of MFA.” New Saint Andrews College Blog, 29 Mar. 2023, https://nsa.edu/blog/nsa-announces-author-christine-cohen-as-director-of-mfa.

Peterson, Andrew. Adorning the Dark: Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making. B&H Books, 2019.  

Resources for Further Study

• On the Renovare Life with God Podcast, Nathan Foster interviewed Matthew Clark, who provided thoughtful insights about art and truth on the episode, “The Gift of Truth.”
• Although I do not agree with all areas of R. C. Sproul’s theology, he does have an interesting series of lectures about Christianity and the arts called Recovering the Beauty of the Arts. I recommend the first in the series, “Aesthetics in Recent History,” which is free to view on Ligonier’s website.  

Music and Story - Literature-Inspired Songs

Image by RachH from Pixabay

In the last post, I examined how music can influence the creativity of writers. Songs can help writers focus and enable them to visualize a scene before putting pen to paper, or fingers to keys. As much as music does help with the creative process, though, we cannot deny that books have influenced music. Many songwriters and bands have drawn inspiration from literary works.            

The reason for this is probably a mixture of admiration for the work and author, but also because great works of literature tell exceptional stories. Since stories have always been an integral part of music, it should not surprise us to find songs based on well-known books. Music can spark imagination that leads to further creativity, as does great literature.

In the list below, you will find a list of literature-inspired songs. If you are someone who wants to guess which book influenced the musician, then listen to the playlist first before reading the next part of the post. However, if you want to understand the literary connection before listening, then keep reading. Either way, I am sure you will appreciate the book-inspired music.

“In Like a Lion (Always Winter)” by Relient K

What could be more depressing than being stuck in an endless winter without any hope of Christmas? C. S. Lewis captures this feeling well in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Jadis, the evil White Witch, cursed Narnia so that it was “always winter, but never Christmas.” Only when Aslan begins to move and sends Father Christmas to Narnia does the holiday reappear, and with it, the hope of spring.

Although Relient K is well-known for their witty and, at times, humorous music, their Narnia-inspired song is expertly written and performed, blending both sorrow and joy.

“Dear Wormwood” by The Oh Hellos

The title is a clear hint to its connection to literature. Drawing from C. S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters, this song mirrors the title of the album, addressed to the demon Wormwood. The narrator of the song has experienced abuse from someone who resembles Wormwood, who constantly tries to tell him who he is and what he can do. No longer under his abuser’s control, the narrator breaks free, declaring the truth about his identity and that of his abuser.    

“Weight of Living, Pt. 1” by Bastille

Although the phrase “albatross around your neck” has become a way to refer to problems in life, the albatross symbol has strong literary roots. Samuel Taylor Coleridge poetically conveys the story of a man who shot an albatross in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. As punishment, the mariner is forced to wear the albatross around his neck. The bird serves as a constant reminder of his guilt.    

Bastille’s song captures the weight that many of us have felt. We all have regrets and things we wish we could forget. There are times when we do need to let go of these burdens, as the song says, but other times our “albatross” might be a burden that we deserve. Many scholars believe Coleridge’s classic poem has religious symbolism. If that is correct, then we can see the heavy weight of guilt and sin in the symbolism of an albatross hanging around someone’s neck.

That burden is not easily lifted, at least not in our strength. Thankfully, Jesus has invited us to turn to Him and He will give us rest (see Matthew 11:28-30).    

“Sigh No More” by Mumford & Sons

When I first heard this song, I was impressed by the instrumentals and lyrical connection to faith. However, I did not originally understand the literary reference. Upon closer study of the lyrics, I discovered that the song draws inspiration from Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. The title comes directly from a song in the play about man’s infidelity called “Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more.”     

Since Mumford & Sons’ song emphasizes the desire to see love as it was meant to be, listeners could interpret the lyrics in contrast to the song in Shakespeare’s play. Yes, many men are unfaithful and cheat on their wives, but there is also love that is faithful and beautiful. True love will not betray or hurt, as Mumford & Sons reminds us.

I believe that this love is found in Christ. Only by knowing Him can we understand love as it was meant to be and express that love to others. As 1 John 3:16 says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (NIV).  

“Lothlorien” by Enya

Enya is well-known for her song featured in The Fellowship of the Ring film called “May It Be.” However, long before she recorded music for the movie, she was already a fan of Tolkien’s work. The instrumental song “Lothlorien,” is inspired by the Elven realm ruled by Galadriel and Celeborn.  

“My Love Has Gone Across the Sea” by Andrew Peterson and “Yurgen’s Tune” by Isaac Horn, Lincoln Mick, and Sarah Wood

Many authors long to add songs into their story world, but do not have experience with songwriting. Thankfully for Andrew Peterson, he has skill in both crafting stories and writing songs. He used his musical ability while crafting The Wingfeather Saga.  

These two songs are not only beautiful pieces of music, but they add to the overall story. Esben, the father to the Wingfeather children, spoke a few of the lyrics from “My Love Has Gone Across the Sea” before he died. The words he speaks foreshadow the ultimate act of love that Janner does for his brother, Kalmar.

Sacrificing one’s life for another is presented as an example of love because “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13, NIV). The greatest act of love in all history was done when Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world. We can only show such love to others because of what the Lord did (1 John 4:19).

“The Lobster Quadrille” by Franz Ferdinand

Although this song was created for Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland (2010), it directly follows the lyrics of the song in the story by Lewis Carroll. Franz Ferdinand adds a darker tone to the whimsical song but remains true to the original rhyme.

In the story, Alice encounters the Mock Turtle during her adventures in Wonderland, and he performs “The Lobster Quadrille.”      

“Where the Shadows Lie” by Bear McCreary and Fiona Apple

McCreary’s “Where the Shadows Lie” was created for the show The Rings of Power based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. Fiona Apple, a singer and songwriter known for her unique vocals and songwriting ability, recorded the song for the final episode of season one. The lyrics come directly from the opening poem of The Lord of the Rings.

Regardless of individual opinions about the show, “Where the Shadows Lie” is a powerful song that captures the spirit of Tolkien’s fantasy epic.

“Digory’s Regret” by Sarah Sparks

We end where we started: A song based on a book by C. S. Lewis. “Digory’s Regret” is a haunting song that captures the perspective of Digory in The Magician’s Nephew. Sarah Sparks expertly conveys the thoughts and emotions expressed in the book, especially when mentioning Digory’s ill mother.

This song is part of Sarah Sparks’ Narnia-inspired album Into the Lantern Waste. Like “Digory’s Regret,” the songs are told from the perspective of individual characters in The Chronicles of Narnia. The album includes other characters from the beloved series such as Lucy, Eustace, Puddlegum, and others. My favorite is “Shasta’s Complaint,” which is excellently written.  

Therefore, many songs, and even entire albums, have been influenced by literature. The cycle is circular though, as written works influence musicians and songs inspire authors.

Creativity encourages creativity.

The New Year, Tolstoy, and Memento Mori

Image by Pixabay

During the start of the New Year, people often like to dream and plan for their lives in the coming year.

Something that people are less likely to think about during this time is death.

As someone who has experienced the loss of loved ones and seen neighbors steadily die, I have been forced to deal with the reality of death at a younger age. Fitting His character, Jesus has worked in these areas of loss and grief to bring me closer to Him and give me a different perspective on what truly matters in life.

Generally, people do not think much about mortality until death confronts them in the form of a health diagnosis or if a loved one dies, which is usually later in life. However, I think if people were more aware of the fact that they would one day die and reflect on the future of their eternity, their goals for the New Year, and for their lives, would be vastly different.

This brings us to The Death of Ivan Ilych by Leo Tolstoy, a story that starts with a funeral. Peter Ivanovich attends out of respect and a sense of obligation to his old friend, Ivan Ilych. However, when Peter sees the corpse of Ivan, he begins to feel uneasy at the thought of his own mortality. Although Ivan’s expression showed that he was at peace, “there was in that expression a reproach and a warning to the living” (Tolstoy 512). Peter shrugged off this warning like an uncomfortable coat, choosing to ignore the fact that he would also die one day.

Later in the story, readers learn how Ivan struggled in the face of death. Before Ivan died, he realized that he had wasted his life on things that didn’t matter. He had built up a house with numerous items and worked hard to ensure he possessed wealth, but he neglected his family and acted selfishly. Furthermore, he ignored his spiritual condition. Only in his illness, aware he would not recover, did Ivan entrust his life to Christ and tried to ease the burden on his family. He discovered that living selfishly, and accumulating the riches of the world, did not bring him happiness.  

The expression on Ivan’s face at the funeral served as a warning to Peter, but also to Tolstoy’s readers. In modern society, we are encouraged to think only of the present and what will make us happy and comfortable. Even some Christians have bought into this mindset, building treasure here on earth as if they do not have an eternal home or treasure.

Ignoring the fact of mortality and our futures in eternity is foolish. If an individual does not know Jesus, then they will never know what true hope or peace is in life. Furthermore, they will have no hope when they eventually confront death. Christians have the assurance of eternal life, but so many of us are wasting our precious energy and time chasing things in this world that do not matter in eternity. One day, when we look back on our life, we might find ourselves in the position of Ivan Ilych, aware that the things we poured our lives into were trivial and did not give us joy.

In the past, Christians commonly disciplined themselves to live in the world while focusing on eternity. Thomas a Kempis, a Christian who lived in the late 14^th century and into the 15^th century, wrote about the need to be aware of death, not as morbid introspection, but as a prudent discipline to motivate believers to live in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. As he wrote in his devotional classic, The Imitation of Christ, “How happy and prudent is he who tries now in life to be what he wants to be found in death.”

Christians have salvation because they trust in Jesus’ death and resurrection. They do not earn forgiveness through good works (see Eph. 2:8-9). However, all believers will one day stand before the Lord at the Judgment Seat of Christ to receive rewards or loss of rewards based on their deeds (2 Cor. 5:10). We should want to hear Jesus’ words: “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:23, NIV).

Therefore, a wise practice when writing goals and thinking about the coming year would be to consider eternity. We will all die one day unless the Lord decides to return in our lifetime. I am not encouraging people to meditate on death to the point of becoming depressed. Rather, healthy consideration of our eternal future after death impacts how we live. 

Stop trusting in items, health, or other pursuits to bring you contentment and happiness. Instead, look to Jesus, who said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die” (John 11:25, NIV). With our eyes fixed firmly on our future with Christ, we can live abundantly and productively, making a difference in the present world while also impacting eternity.

Works Cited

Kempis, Thomas a. The Imitation of Christ. “The Twenty-Third Chapter: Thoughts on Death.” Christian Classics Ethereal Library, https://ccel.org/ccel/kempis/imitation/imitation.one.23.html.

The Bible. New International Version. Bible Hub, 2022.

Tolstoy, Leo. “The Death of Ivan Ilych.” Familiar Strangers. Edited by Mark Ray Schmidt. Macmillan Learning, 2020, pp. 510-555.

For Further Reading and Thought

If you want to read the rest of Thomas a Kempis’ thoughts about death, you can do so here.

Also, I would recommend listening to the song “Live Like That” by Sidewalk Prophets, which fits this theme of living in light of eternity.

Finally, this article from Crossway expands more on the idea of “Memento Mori” and how it relates to us as believers.

Fighting the Monster Within

 

Image by Pixabay

On Halloween, many people enjoy watching horror movies or listening to frightening stories. For book lovers, gothic literature may appear on their ongoing reading list during October. As someone who enjoys classic works and minored in English in college, I have read many books in the genre of gothic literature. Authors like Edgar Allan Poe and Mary Shelley often appear in literary anthologies, as do other writers such as H. P. Lovecraft and Stephen King. When reading the works of these authors, I am often amazed at how they deal with matters of humanity, even though the story may center on a strange creature or monster.     

Oftentimes, we focus so much on the frightening monsters in these books, such as the creature in Frankenstein, that we miss what these works say about life and the world we inhabit. Gothic literature consists of more than horror stories about monsters terrorizing innocent people. It is a genre that has much to say about the state of humanity. Works like Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson blur the line between monster and man. 

Frankenstein and the Evil Within

Victor Frankenstein is a character well-known for his creation of a monster. Seeking to animate a lifeless body, Frankenstein pieces together a massive and grotesque being. He animates the creature with electricity but is repulsed by his creation (Shelley 51). Instead of guiding and helping the monster, who desires friends and a companion he can love, Frankenstein rejects the creature, condemning it to an evil fate. Although he had tried to play the role of God in creating a living being, he fails in his creator role. For the rest of the story, Frankenstein must deal with the consequences of his failure as he becomes obsessed with destroying his creation.

While Frankenstein repeatedly calls his creation a “demon” and “fiend,” he is equally to blame for the monster’s wickedness. He recognizes this with hindsight, wishing he had never created the being: “When I thought of him, I gnashed my teeth, my eyes became inflamed, and I ardently wished to extinguish that life which I had so thoughtlessly bestowed” (Shelley 81). The creature’s inclination toward wickedness is not surprising when we understand that “Victor’s personality is imparted to his creation in much the same way as God creates man in His own image” (Soyka 168). The monster declines into depravity because Frankenstein, his creator, is marred with sin. 

In many ways, Frankenstein resembles his creature. They both view themselves as essentially virtuous but stained by the sinful actions they have committed (Shelley 80, 114). Both the monster and Frankenstein have a troubled relationship with their father, the one who gave them life (Shelley 81, 88-89). Victor repeatedly tries to escape the immoral acts he has committed while the creature futilely seeks to grasp humanity, each helpless to change their fate. Neither Victor nor the creature can change who they really are: a monster.

As Frankenstein shows, humans are much closer to being monsters than we may realize. Elizabeth says it well when she reflects on the deaths of William and Justine, “men appear to me as monsters thirsting for each other’s blood” (Shelley 82). The creature may have caused the deaths of Victor’s friends and family, but Frankenstein recognized that he “was the true murderer” (Shelley 82). Depravity is not just a concept outside humankind, as if we were passive onlookers to wicked deeds, but it is within all of us.

Good vs. Evil?

Like Shelley’s Frankenstein, Robert Louis Stevenson also blurs the line between monster and man in his novella, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. To appear respectable, Dr. Jekyll struggles to keep his corrupt desires hidden throughout his life, maintaining a “commonly grave countenance before the public” (Stevenson 60). He regularly gives to charity and deceives society into believing he is a decent gentleman. However, for years, he has lived a double life (Stevenson 61). This pretense naturally leads to his creation of a serum that allows him to transform his “good” self into his “evil” self.

Although Stevenson pushes the concept of the duality of man, Dr. Jekyll is not a separate being from Mr. Hyde. When Dr. Jekyll first transforms into Edward Hyde, he knew that this identity was also a part of himself, as “[i]t seemed natural and human. In my eyes it bore a livelier image of the spirit, it seemed more express and single, than the imperfect and divided countenance” (Stevenson 64). The stout and vile Edward Hyde who murdered people and trampled children in the street is the same person as Henry Jekyll, a gentleman esteemed by his community.

We cannot dismiss Mr. Hyde as the monster with Dr. Jekyll as the innocent victim of a failed experiment. The “good” doctor knew all along what he was doing when he turned himself into Mr. Hyde. He wanted to hide his sinful desires from others since the “incoherency of [his] life was daily growing more unwelcome” (Stevenson 65). Thus, Dr. Jekyll was always Mr. Hyde, even before he drank the potion. Just as the monster in Frankenstein reflects the evil in man, so also does Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde dramatically portray the warring nature of sin inside each person.

The Monster Within Each of Us

Shelley and Stevenson allow us a glimpse of the monster inside each of us. Man is just as much to blame for the painful suffering caused by the monster in Frankenstein since Victor crafted the creature and encouraged its descent into degeneracy. Likewise, Dr. Jekyll had already entertained corrupt desires in his heart before transforming into his villainous counterpart Mr. Hyde. We often look outside of ourselves, pointing fingers at the iniquities in the world: murder, greed, political tension, and war. By focusing on evil around us, we forget that we are all equally guilty of wrongdoing because of sin. The blurring of monster and man is not just a literary concept found in gothic literature but reflects the biblical truth of human depravity.

As Jesus told His disciples when discussing defilement, “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person” (Mark 7:20-23, NIV). If we wonder why there is so much wickedness in the world, we need only remember our sinful hearts. Humans are the ones who brought death and suffering into the world, which affected all creation (Romans 5:12; 8:20-23). Scripture reminds us that no one does right and all fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:10-12, 23). Inside each of us, there is the deadly monster of sin grasping for control.  

Slaying the Monster of Sin

Unlike Victor Frankenstein and Henry Jekyll, whose lives end tragically, we have hope of slaying the monster of sin. Christ provides the answer for evil in the world since He died for the sins of us all so that we could have new lives (2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Peter 1:23). Sin will continue to wage war against the new life inside the believer, but our sin nature will one day meet its destruction (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).

On our own, we cannot change our nature. However, because of Jesus’ transforming work in our lives, we can bring beauty and hope into this broken world as we fight against the monster within and help others do the same.

Works Cited

Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. Barnes & Noble Classics, 2003.

Soyka, David. “Frankenstein and the Miltonic Creation of Evil.” Extrapolation, vol. 33, no. 2, 1992, pp. 166-176.

Stevenson, Robert Louis. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Other Stories. Running, 1994. 

The Bible. New International Version. Zondervan, 2011. Bible Hub, 2022.