I have had this book on my bookshelf for quite some time. It had become one of many that I had intended to read but did not quite get there until this summer.

So, what happened this summer? Joy Clarkson, Sally Clarkson's daughter, had posted on her podcast that she wanted to do A Wrinkle in Time for her summer book club. CoVid 19 had impressed on her the need to pick something a little easier to read than her previous picks and a little more uplifting. 

Well, I jumped on this. Uplifting is something I needed at that moment in time. I took it on a short weekend trip and read the first five chapters. And now I know why it is a class.

I have come to appreciate the beauty in this tale from 1963. It is a coming of age story and a science fiction story rolled into one. Let's begin our journey...

Meg and her little brother, Charles, wonder what has happened to their father, a scientist working for the government who has been missing for several years. When a strange old lady shows up at their door, the adventure to find him begins. The old lady and two more of her odd friends lead them out of the universe into the worlds of some strange planets that are under the influence of the horrible, shadowy IT.

Meg, an awkward and insecure girl, finds the courage and resourcefulness to overcome IT and save her father and brother. She also learns about the importance of family and love. One minute she's on the brink of death under the grip of IT, and the next, she's ready to face IT because she knows that it's something only she can do.

There is a small cast of side characters. Charles Wallace for one. It's not very clear why little Charles, who has the vocabulary of a Harvard graduate, is so special. But he is special. Calvin is another notable character in the book. He seems to genuinely like Meg for who she is. Meg, of course, has a hard time getting her head around that fact in the beginning.

Throughout the story there are references to Christianity: quotes from scripture, mention of angels, and the idea that God is in charge of everything. This gives the story a "Chronicles of Narnia" kind of feel.

Is this a Christian story? This is open for interpretation. For me, this book has many lessons. First, it is a reminder to say yes to life, to accept responsibility, to be brave even when frightened, not to make decisions based on fear, and to accept people as they are. 

It's has beauty. It has truth. It has life in it.

This is the book that many publishers rejected. This is the book that won the Newberry Medal. 

It lifts up life. 

Borrow a copy from your local library or pull it down off of your shelf. Open it up and read.

Don't wait as long as I did to read it.

And when you do, email me to let me know what a tesseract is.
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It's funny how God works things out when you least expect it. 

This past weekend I was getting into the elevator to go to Korea University. I needed to use the scanner for my Academic English students. Our neighbor was on the eight floor, who I have met many times, was also in the elevator. We talked a bit in Korean before we said goodbye and proceeded our separate ways. I thought it was strange that he wasn't wearing a mask.

It took me about a minute to realize that I didn't have my keys. I was thinking to myself that it was a little ridiculous that I had remembered everything else but forgot the keys. 

Low and behold the neighbor was also going back upstairs. I smiled at him and said key in Korean and pointed upstairs. He laughed hysterically because he had done the exact same thing! There we were, guiltily going back up to get the one item we forgot.

I met him again on the way down. He lives right above us, so I called out, "Mister come to the seventh floor. We can go down together!" And he did come running down the stairs. 

In the basement he kept saying a word I didn't understand and motioned for me to come to his car. He handed me two books. As I was looking at the books, I realized that he was the author, and I told that it was great. I was trying to give them back, but he kept insisting that I take it. He kept saying, " I novelist." I took his two books and looked at them carefully later that evening with my husband. 

My husband looked at the books after I said, "There is a novelist living on the eighth floor!" 

I thought that would be the end of it. It wasn't.

The following evening he knocked on our door.  Aidan, my second son, answered the door. Aidan was presented with a rather large box and the box had two rather large and expensive melons in it. "It's a present for your family." I recognized the voice.

I went to the door and said thank you and asked if he was in 803 or 804. He said 804, which is right above us.

It's rather poetic that a novelist lives above us and he is rather kind. I will give him something later on in the week. I am thinking about banana bread muffins...

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I am reading a leadership book with a group of people from KNU International Church called The Secret. I did not expect to like the book as much as I did!

What is the secret?

The secret is about great leadership and what great leaders do.

Great leaders serve.

Great leaders are not necessarily on a power trip.

They want to help others.

They want to serve!

It begins with a woman named who just does not know what to do with her team of people at work. She knows they are good people, but she is not sure why they are not performing well. She decides to do something about it.

She starts at the library looking at books about leadership. The books all mention mentoring and she is wondering what to do when she sees an email about mentoring opportunities. 

Hmmm. She is thinking to herself that a quick meeting with someone above her could help her out. 

She signs up to find out that the meeting will not be quick. She also finds out that her meeting is with the boss of her company!

Together her and her boss go over SERVE. 

The S stands for See the Future. 

The E stands for Engage and Develop Others.

The R stands for Reinvent Continuously.

The V stands for Value Results and Relationships.

The E? I am not going to tell you because it's a secret!

The principles behind the book are what served the American Chick-fil-A company so well. 

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We are in a leadership void at the moment. There are a number of people in leadership, including Donald Trump, who should be part of this discussion. What is it that we want in a leader?

If we don't start discussing what we want in political leaders, economic leaders, and church leaders, we are not going to get anywhere. 

I saw great leadership in the aftermath of the George Floyd murder.

I have seen police officers protest and agree with protesters. 

I have seen late night talk show hosts explain how the reality of CoVid 19 interconnected with the George Floyd murder, and the systemic existence of racism in the U.S..

Let's talk.

Is it about being smart?

Is it about mentoring people?

Is it about caring for people?

Is it about standing in solidarity when you know something is wrong with society?

Is it about the man who showed kindness on the eight floor?

I just want to get the discussion started...

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. Philippians 2:3.