One final quote

I finished "The Poisonwood Bible" this afternoon and was struck with one final thought to share. Having lived outside of America my mind has recently been sparked by the discipline of sociology - I have taken more of an observer's role regarding how people live and what our default responses are to varying situations. Coming back to America for these past 5 years has given me numerous opportunities to see just how "American" we all really are (myself included).

So, the quote...
The book takes place in the Congo and this particular section is a conversation between an American woman and a Congolese man, who is telling her a story about journeying through the jungle. He tells her of crossing rivers not by ferry, but by bridges "that stretch from one great greenheart tree to another on the opposite bank" - bridges merely made of vines. To which the lady responds,
"But what if it's a huge river, like the Congo, which is much broader than the reach of any vine?"
"This is simple," he said. "Such a river should not be crossed."












The Congo River
(image courtesy of http://www.congo-pages.org/boma/pics/baobabriver.jpg)

Us Americans (again, myself included) don't seem to approach life this way. We've got something in us (call it curiosity?) that drives us to cross the river ahead no matter the cost. As I get older (yes, I know, 30 isn't that old - I did say "older") I can't help but wonder what instincts within me will eventually lead to greater ruin than gain, and I pray that each new pursuit will be guided by the One who knows my steps before I take them.

If any of you have an open spot on your reading list we both thoroughly enjoyed "The Poisonwood Bible."