Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Connecting to the Unseen


It wouldn’t surprise you, would it, if I told you my two sons  were exceptional? Even if you disagreed - if you’d met them and hadn’t find them special at all, you would at least concede that I would of course think they were, because I am their mom.

You  wouldn’t disagree, though.

 If you met them, you would find them handsome, kind,  bright, creative and engaging.  Really. That’s what I always hear from people who go out of their way to tell me.  They truly are remarkable.

But what if I said that when I see them, I feel the light that emanates from their souls, I honestly see halos around their heads, I practically hear the angels sing? Well, you might believe me the way Scully believed Mulder (“I’m sure you thought you saw…”), but you wouldn’t see the halos, and you wouldn’t hear the angels.*

Madeleine L’engle held that we are made like onions, with all the ages we have ever been still layered inside. The infant still lives, as does the two year old, the ten-year-old, the teenager. I believe this is true.

So the reason, I think, that I see these young men so clearly is that I have witnessed the formation of all those layers.  Few others – their father does, and my eldest’s mother (I’m his step-mom) – understand the things I know because I was there.

I believe that when, as the Bible predicts, the lion will lie down with the lamb, then at that moment we will all see more clearly past our noses into the souls of each other. We will see one another the way I see my boys and be astonished that we ever passed a human on the street without looking up.

Because we will see what was formerly unseen.

Trust me – this all has to do with books.

Over at Novel Matters, we are having a long conversation about why the novel matters, and I believe the answer is connected to all I’ve just said.

The following video is an excellent interview with  Eugene Peterson conducted in 2007 at Point Loma Nazarene University. Toward the end of the video (you can drag the slider to 26:11 if you’re in a hurry), he says something I like:

“Imagination is almost, not quite, the same thing as faith. It connects what we see with what we don’t see, and pulls us through what we see to what we don’t see.”





When an author writes a novel, she must know her characters, layer by layer. She uses her imagination to blend what she knows of her own story with what she knows of the stories of others – some of them people she knows very well.

When you read a book, you use your imagination to flesh out the story the author has given. She has written down the words, but you supply the pictures. You bring to the page what you know of yourself and those you love.

And somehow, when this collaboration works at its best, the result is that you look at the stranger on the street with new eyes. You glimpse the light between the layers. You hear music.


*Their wives might, or if not yet, I think they will. You should meet the man I’ve come to know these past 27+ years. Light and angel songs. 

13 comments:

Pamela King Cable said...

Listened to this interview from beginning to end. Inspiring. I wish every pastor could hear it ... and start reading fiction. Ask their congregations to begin reading more fiction. What a great idea.

Kathleen Popa said...

Pamela, wasn't that a great interview. Yes - preach it, sister!

Cherry Odelberg said...

Wow! Today, I have been lucky to attend a writer's symposium by the sea, sit-in and participate in four writer's groups or round-table discussions via blogs; and still get the dishes, the ironing and other housework done.
Thank you, thank you for sharing! (Your writing on the subject was a pleasure to read, too, Kathleen).
All this with little or no expense but my time.
I did really miss the "by the sea part, however."

Kathleen Popa said...

Cherry, did you watch the whole video? Wasn't it good?

Thanks for the kind words. And I'm with you. Let's take off for the beach, shall we?

Susie Finkbeiner said...

I haven't had a chance to watch the whole video yet. But I just have to pipe in and say how much I adore Eugene Peterson.

And I hear you about the onion like nature of characters. They sure like to surprise us as we peel away the layers.

I think my kids are pretty amazing, too. {sigh} I need to go hug them all now.

Megan Sayer said...

Katy my husband will tell you that I have a massive aversion to watching videos on Facebook (or any website for that matter), but I loved what you wrote before it so much, and because it was you, I did.
Wow. I only took in about half of what he said (because I'm still trying to do other things at the same time), but there was so much truth in that. I'm going to watch it again tonight when it's quieter.
Thanks for sharing it.

Anonymous said...

Katy, so many good points in this post. And I can attest to what you say about your sons. I've had the privilege to meet them. They're all you say and more.

Betty Slade said...

Excellent! I am so glad I took time to listen to this interview. Wow!

Kathleen Popa said...

Megan, yes, it's well worth watching. Sharon, we've both been blessed with such beautiful kids.

Kathleen Popa said...

Betty, I'm glad you're here. Thanks for dropping in.

Samantha Bennett said...

I really want to shake that man's hand! I loved how he described the patience of storytelling and also how every single thing matters. And I also loved everything else he said. :) Thanks for sharing!

Kathleen Popa said...

Any time, Samantha! What kindred spirits we have here. How cool that you're all here on Novel Matters!

Jennifer Smith said...

Thank you for this great post! It was a great source of inspiration to me today!