me and madeleine…
The apple trees in the orchard at Crosswicks are growing old…
First lines. As a writer I know they are important. I believe Madeleine L’Engle knew that as well. So when she finally gave in to the pressure from friends, like Luci Shaw, to write a book about faith and art I’ve no doubt she allowed many words to audition for that first line, that string of sounds to push her out beyond where her toes could touch, into the depths of faith.
I cannot recall when or where I bought my used copy of Walking On Water. But since then I have returned many times to Madeleine’s orchard. Sometimes looking for inspiration. Other times wrestling for clarity. A few times longing for solace. I’ve read other books about creativity, good books mind you, but there is something about her words that keeps me coming back. Maybe its a first love, one I’d hate to lose. In my conversations with others along the way I’ve found they too hold her book with such affection, always a warm smile followed with variations on a theme of ‘oh, I just love that book!’
†
To try and talk about art and about Christianity is for me one and the same thing, and it means attempting to share the meaning of my life, what gives it, for me, its tragedy and its glory. It is what makes me respond to the death of an apple tree.
Madeleine seems unconcerned about avoiding words like me and my; these are the thoughts of a witness, quite personal. She believes that chipping away at the meaning of life means first of all chipping away at her own. I continue to hear the line ‘its not about you’ in the larger dialogue of faith. I don’t believe it. I don’t believe Madeleine does either. It may not be all about me, but it has to at least be a little about me or what is the point of me? Joan Didion said character is ‘the willingness to accept responsibility for one’s own life.’ Until we say ‘yes’ to the tragedy and glory of our own lives, we not only don’t have character, but more importantly we’re not one.
Life is a story and a story must have characters, like a lady named Madeleine and a man named John and beautiful green pie-apple trees that have been winter killed.
[I’m going to take Walking On Water and try and do the same thing Julie did with Julia Child’s cookbook…try a little at a time, write about, taste and see…]
Thank you for offering to me the opening lines in The Jesus Life! I appreciate every tap of the key board you give to my manuscript!
Steve Smith
Potter’s Inn
You are welcome, Steve…
I love what you said about first person pronouns representing the voice of a witness; that Madeleine didn’t shy away from them and understood that chipping away at the meaning of life meant chipping away at the meaning of her own life…and sharing it.
This is a reminder for the memoirist, poet, theologian, nonfiction author, blogger, essayist and friend writing to someone an e-mail. Or even just a little comment at the bottom of a blog post. 🙂
Thank you, Ann…as for me, I’m rather fond of little comments, and smiley faces…have a great weekend!
I was just hanging out with one of her God-Daughters and Luci Shaw’s husband, John Hoyt:)
I am looking forward to what you will do as write through “Water.” The Crosswicks Journals are ones I read over and over…
Kendall, up on Orcas I gather? I hope the time was rich (couldn’t see how it wouldn’t be)…thanks!
This sounds wonderful… can’t wait to taste a bite at a time…
Well, we’ll see…Madeleine can be quite provocative, and I can be quite the fool…thanks, Julie!
One of my favorite lines is: “Christian art? Art is art, and bad art is bad art no matter how pious the subject.”
Winn, thanks for commenting whilst on your vacation (you get bonus points, bru)…yep, that line’s a keeper, it makes me smile each time I read/see it…have a great time!
“Until we say ‘yes’ to the tragedy and glory of our own lives, we not only don’t have character, but more importantly we’re not one.”
Yes!
I’m not sure there is anything else to say. 🙂
Thanks for sharing this. I have so much to catch up on in my reading. I went so long with out reading anything except my Bible, being taught that that’s all I need,(not involved in that church any longer). The last 20 months have been the most incredible, rich, months of my life, As I have been exposed to so many wonderful writers/thinkers, present and past. From Brennan and Donald Miller, to St John of the Cross. I have learned to embrace the tragedy and the glory of my story and in the process been able to finally embrace God’s Love and Grace. Thanks to all who think outside the evangelical box and challenge us to do so also. I am so blessed to finally be the character I’m my story, the one our Father wrote for me. Thnk you so much!