It’s very enjoyable to read books written by good authors. One reason is because, in seemingly mundane sentences, they use interesting combinations of words that reach out to the reader.
Not everyone reading the book will be inspired in the same way or by the same words. But people will find something that inspires them in great books.
While reading Little, Big by John Crowley I came across a phrase like that. Maybe it’s the timing, the environmental influences, whatever it was it struck a chord with me. Here’s the phrase in the context of its sentence:
“Mother was powdered to the elbows in the process of pie-making, not a mindless task though she liked to call it that, in fact she found that at it her thoughts were often clearest, notions sharpest; she could do things when her body was busy that she could at no other time, things like assemble her worries into ranks, each rank commanded by a hope. She remembered verse sometimes cooking that she had forgotten she knew, or spoke in tongues, her husband’s or her children’s or her dead father’s or her unborn, clearly-seen grandchildren’s, three graduated girls and a lean unhappy boy.”
The phrase impacted me with the idea that hope commands (controls) worries. Beautiful. It reminds me of the many instances in the Scripture that speaks of hope.
- Romans 12:12 (NIV) — Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
- 2 Corinthians 3:12 (NIV) — Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.
- 1 Peter 3:15a (NIV) — But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
Hope is one of the most wonderful aspects of the Christian faith. When I come across phrases that remind me of that hope it’s exciting! Now I’m excited to read more of the book.
