Homage to a Hero

Yesterday, one of my favorite writers passed away: Madeleine L'Engle. Writing in the tradition of George MacDonald, C. S. Lewis, and J. R. R. Tolkien, she skillfully was able to weave Christian truth into her creative children's fantasies, influencing generations of young people.

I first encountered her in sixth grade when we had to read "A Wrinkle in Time" in Mrs. Gargano's reading class. Not only was I struck by her imagination, but also the fact that she quoted the Bible and referred to Jesus as the ultimate light who defeats "The Black Thing." After reading that book, my cousin and I actually started to write a few "fantasy novels" of our own...but don't look for them at Border's anytime soon!!

Like the Harry Potter series today, her books were often maligned by "reactionary" elements in the Church who did not approve of the "pagan imagery" included. In spite of this, she touched the lives of millions of young people (and even older people). I frequently have gone back to her books, just to be reminded of yet another writer who "baptized my imagination."

Just a few years ago, I found yet another book that she wrote: "Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art." I encourage all of you to read it; it has some great insights that could speak to our postmodern generation. Below are a couple quotes from that book that really stuck with me:

"Stories are in no way an evasion of life, but a way of living life creatively instead of fearfully."

"To paint a picture or to write a story or to compose a song is an incarnational activity. The artist is a servant who is willing to be a birthgiver."

"We all tend to make zealous judgments, and thereby close ourselves off from revelation. If we feel that we already know something in its totality, then we fail to keep our ears and eyes open to that which may expand or even change that which we so zealously think we know."

"There is nothing so secular that it cannot be made sacred, and that is one of the deepest messages of the Incarnation."

"We look into outer space, and because we cannot see a God we can touch, a God we can comprehend with our rational intellects, we invent new gods to take His place, all the little gods of technocracy, little gods who have eyes and see not, ears and hear not, hands and touch not, and who have nothing to say to us in the times of our deepest need."

"I do not understand this death, but I am learning to trust it. Only through this death can come the glory of resurrerction...It is not easy to think of any kind of death as a gift, but it is prefigured for us in the mighty acts of Creation and Incarnation; in Crucifixion and Resurrection. You are my helper and redeemer; make no long tarrying, O my God."

Madeleine L'Engle, 1918-2007