The holidays are upon us.

It's the final week in November. There is lots of rain, soon to become snow. Yesterday was the Sunday of the Fulfillment, which is the last Sunday in the church year. What this means is that Advent is upon us, along with many other celebrations. Thursday is Thanksgiving, Saturday is my birthday, and next Wednesday is our 3rd wedding anniversary. Time flies.

Always be thankful. It is fitting that Thanksgiving takes place so close to the beginning of Advent, because we reflect on our blessings around the family table, overloaded with food and laughter, and then begin the all too short journey of reflection towards the celebration one of the greatest events in the history of the universe: Christmas Day.

Never mind that the world begins to celebrate Christmas as soon as All Hallow's Eve comes to a close and All Saints' Day dawns; we Christians have a blessed freedom in Christ to enjoy the secular merriment and reflect during Advent. Plus, we know that the season of Christmas doesn't end on December 25th! The Christmas season in the church year culminates with Epiphany, the celebration of the visit of the Magi, on January 6th.

Life is short, and it's silly to get all grouchy when the Christmas music begins playing in mid-November. In fact, I welcome it, because within all the fun (and strange, yes) secular holiday music playing, the message of Jesus' birth will come through. It's there, my friends. Rejoice in that. Don't refuse to listen to Christmas music. At least don't refuse to listen to it once December rolls around. Enjoy this season of family, merriment, and fun, which also remembering that Jesus came for us and why He came.

The holidays are upon us, and my family in particular has a few extra special days between Thanksgiving and Epiphany, some I did not specifically name. I am sure other families have special days in this time too.

Enjoy it, my friends. The freedom we have in Christ does not equal being a scrooge about all things secular.

With that being said, I'm going to dig out my stash of construction paper, put on some Christmas music, and craft some snowflakes and maybe a paper chain or two. And figure out where the heck our Christmas tree is going to go.

winter to spring: a Resurrection reflection

dear pretty white stuff on the ground,
your time is over and winter is done.
please go away till Christmas cheer,
we seriously need some warmth this year!


I awoke from a glorious dream about returning to England (beautiful, summery England), to find a cover of white upon the ground. Normally I would jump for joy that it had snowed during the night. But this morning my heart grew sad. Warmth will come, I am certain of it...the sunshine speaks of warmer days in its golden touch. (Also, Mom, if you read this, I am still thinking of Frederick!)

It is only March; there is much time left in this transition the northern hemisphere makes between winter and spring. I have never wished for summer like I am wishing right now. Winter is my favourite season, but that's only if there is lots of snow. Now, here at the season crossroads, all of my being longs for warm sunshine, fresh breezes, and the scent of flowering trees. With all the snow melted (well, most of it since it snowed again), one can truly see how barren the earth is beneath the cover of white.

This transition time is so perfect for the season of Lent, because it is during this time that we remember the transformation we have gone through as God's children and will go through when He takes us home. The cold winter strips away anything living and reveals the barrenness that mirrors our human souls, but the snow comes to cover the earth and make it white. Jesus came and took all our sins upon Him, covering us and making us white. We are still upon this earth, still broken sinners, but He has taken them from us. And then in the springtime all things begin to grow again, being fed by the warmth of the sun and water from the melting snow. Suddenly, sometimes overnight, the brown and gone and has been replaced and enhanced with riotous greenery. Spring has sprung! We are like the springtime in the Resurrection, because we too will be made new, having been washed by the blood of Christ. When we enter His kingdom, spring has sprung. And celebrating Easter, Resurrection Sunday, in the springtime is perfect.

A poor analogy for what will truly be the most glorious moment, but one that makes me smile. Being able to visualize (in a sense) our salvation is incredible. God created this world, so why shouldn't it reflect Him and His plan?

colour my world/a Lenten musing

The first three photos were taken in summer of 2011 (I think) at my family's home in Illinois. Currently,  I miss colour. The world is white and brown, which is beautiful of course, since we all know I adore snow. But February is nearing its end now; I find myself longing to see green buds on the trees and hear birds singing in those trees. We have another snowstorm coming; exciting as always. But as I page through my Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds catalog and pick what I will grow this year, I wish I could open the windows and feel a warm breeze. Spring breezes have a certain scent to them. I don't mean the ones that smell of manure and farms! I mean the other ones, those that smell warm.

Lent is also upon us. We sang the hymn in that last picture both on Ash Wednesday and last Sunday. When Lent comes so early, it's a bit of a shock; we think of Easter as being in the springtime. And it will be -- it comes on the last day of March. Easter, that is. So perhaps Lent being so early isn't a bad thing. As winter holds on and spring struggles to break through, we can be reminded of our Lord and Savior's struggle with Satan and death and how He won, just like spring overcomes winter each and every year.

Yes, I love winter. I kind of hate summer. Autumn is awesome. But spring is a good time to be contemplative, and that's something I look forward to as the weather warms up.

relationships part two

Because of the overwhelming (to me) positive response I received on my previous post, I am writing a follow up post. I covered the basics before, but I want to mention a few more specifics this time. Hopefully this post won't be quite as long. (It's not a very strong hope...haha.)

Sex
Okay, I'm going to stress this one again, because we live in a culture where the "anything goes" mentality pervades even the most intimate acts -- namely sex as it is meant to be, between one man and one woman within the bonds of marriage. Teenagers and other single young men and women (and everybody else, of course!) are bombarded with images on the internet, in movies, on television, and even in books (Fifty Shades of Gray, anyone??). And according to our culture, that is okay. You're allowed to do whatever you want, as long as it feels good. Never mind that it's going to hurt you and many other people in the long run. That's what the world doesn't tell you. God created sex within one context only for so many reasons. Read Song of Solomon (or Song of Songs, whichever your edition of the Bible calls it). Such a beautiful book and it praises marriage in a beautiful and poetical way.

So, boundaries are important. We need boundaries, rules, and guidelines in all areas of our life, and obviously sex is no different. Just because the world says it's okay to sleep with your bf/gf when you're 15 does not mean it is. In fact, I've found that usually if the world says something is okay, it most certainly is not. All that being said, I also know that things happen no matter how hard we try to stay pure within a relationship. I said that in the previous post, and it really stems from the fact that we are all sinners. Forgiveness is as equally important as boundaries.

That being said, hold hands with your bf/gf. Hug them. Kiss them if you feel comfortable with that. Even cuddle on the couch and watch a movie. But remember your boundaries. Ladies, guys have a much harder time with this than we do. It's important to remind your boyfriend that you have set boundaries. For the most part, he will be glad you called it to his attention. My husband has told me many times that guys have a tendency to think about one thing at a time (also known as having a one-track mind, haha), and sometimes, sexual desire takes over and it's extremely hard to come back down to earth, so to speak. There's a time and a place for those feelings, and it's after the wedding day. But don't be afraid to get a little close to each other. Just please keep your clothes on!!!! Again, things happen, no matter the boundaries you have set.

Faith
I probably should have put this section before the previous one, but oh well. Also note that I am specifically targeting Christians in these posts, so if anyone outside of my Facebook friends reads this, just know that. (Though all of this ought to apply to everyone...) So, here's the scenario:
You share the faith of your parents. You were raised in one denomination of Christianity for your whole life, and you know that you will be staying a member of that denomination. Now you've entered your teenage years and there just doesn't seem to be anyone at your church that you would willingly date. Oh, they are your good friends, of course, but that's all. Or maybe your church is so small you're basically a class of one in your age group most of the time. So you look to your friends outside of church. None of them are the same denomination as you are, but hey, they're Christian, right?
So there's this guy/girl that you begin to like as a little more than a friend. Maybe you even decide to confess your feelings to him/her. And guess what, he/she likes you, too! -gasp- This is wonderful! You go on a few dates, and try to spend time alone at gatherings of friends. People start to call you a couple. Eventually, you are. Then, the serious talk starts.
Do you want to see yourselves married to each other in however many years? You think the answer is yes. So you begin to talk very seriously. Eventually, the talk comes back around to church. You and your bf/gf would love to attend church together as husband and wife. That's how you each grew up and it's kind of a requirement in your minds. You attend church together, maybe alternating Sundays a few times. You soon come to the realization that his/her church is very different from yours, even differing on some main points in the Bible, not to mention worship styles. You try to talk it over with him/her, but he/she isn't quite sure he/she understands what is so important about your church. But you are not going to budge, and he/she won't either. 
Eventually, you break up over theological differences. This is important. You were not willing to compromise your beliefs, and neither was your significant other. Granted, you were both Christian, but with the wide variety of Christian denominations around today, this kind of thing will happen. But you know what? You stayed strong in your faith, and hopefully your bf/gf learned something about his/her own faith as well.
So that was very long. And hopefully ambiguous enough that it could apply to just about anyone, even though I experienced this a couple of times. Personal side note, here: I have grown up Lutheran, and that is different from any other denomination that I have ever been exposed to (other than Catholic, but they are in a league all their own), and because my church was so small, and few other Lutherans homeschooled, I had a hard time. And when I did date a Lutheran while I was a teenager, I realized that he did not know how to live out his faith whatsoever, and I definitely lay the blame on his parents. (If you really MUST know any of the personal details, please message me privately on Facebook...)
No matter what denomination you are, I want you to examine your beliefs and the doctrine (if any...) that your denomination holds and know who you are in Christ before you start thinking seriously about dating and marriage. I know families where the parents attend different churches and I have a difficult time believing their children have a strong faith background. Obviously, I don't know their hearts and souls, but still. On the other hand, if you are a "church-jumper" then you really need to take a look at what you believe. It is super hard to defend your faith if you have heard conflicting things every other year. (By "church-jumper" I mean people that attend, say, a Pentecostal church for a year, then decide they are going to attend a Bible church, and then a Baptist church, and then a home church, and then...you get the idea. It's never Lutheran or Catholic, though, that's something I've noticed....I guess people don't like being told they are sinners anymore...) Being secure in Christ and a solid interpretation of the Bible will help you in all areas of life.

EDIT: Make sure you agree politically, as well, because in today's politically polarized world, it'll be nearly impossible to agree on anything ever.

Dress (or Modesty 101)
This is a difficult topic for some, but I see too many young girls (and young men, for that matter) dressing in inappropriate ways to not address it in terms of relationships. Again, I will stress that we are all sinners, no one is perfect, and this is even evident in the ways we as Christian people choose to dress. Yes, there are ways that a Christian should not dress. I know that may seem strange to some people.
Now, I'm not touting the idea that all girls need to wear long skirts and high-necked shirts and braids in their hair and boring shoes all the time. If you like dressing that way, go ahead! But don't use it as a biblical standard and look down on girls that do wear jeans and t-shirts and bright purple Chuck Taylors and maybe even dye their hair a funky color. Fashion can totally be fun, and those who know me know that I love my Chucks, bright red hair, and geeky t-shirts.
Things that Christian young women should not wear are short shorts that are almost up their rear ends (I've even seen this in church, and I was appalled!!!), dresses that barely cover the already mentioned rear ends, and super low-cut shirts. I suppose I should add that push-up bras aren't necessarily the best thing to be wearing, either, because they explicitly bring attention to your chest and that's not a good idea. Really, just use discretion when you are shopping. I've also heard that asking your father or brother (if he's of the correct age) if something is appropriate is a good idea, too. But discretion is key. If you realize you're choosing something to get looks from the boys, then maybe you should think again.
Also, wear clothing that is actually the correct size!!!!!! This is something I cannot stress enough! Whether you are a size 6 or a size 14 or whatever, please, please, please wear clothing that fits!! I know the fashion magazines show everyone as a size -14 (seriously...that's not even size zero...), but those same magazines have some pretty wacky and stupid ideas about fashion and life in general. Too many young girls (Christian and non-Christian alike) use those magazines as their Bibles and oh the effects of this are just awful. We are all created in the image of God, and that means each and every one of you, girls and ladies, is beautiful. If you feel you are overweight or underweight, do something about it. At the very least, try. Modesty isn't only clothing; it's how you carry yourself, and take care of your body as a whole.
So...young men...yes, you. Obviously it's a whole different ball game when it comes to your clothes, but I still have a few pointers that maybe you ought to think about following if you don't already.
I'll just list them for you.

1. Like the girls, wear clothing that fits. Stop wearing shirts and pants that are three sizes too big for you. It looks sloppy and immature.
2. WEAR A BELT. I don't care what your boxers have on them, nobody wants to see that.
3. Stop wearing t-shirts with offensive images or language on them. I know that's the norm now, but I do not have a very high opinion of any young man I see wearing a t-shirt that shows the finger or says something offensive. Bad language is never attractive. (Same goes for you, ladies.)
4. Dress up once in a while! Wearing something nicer than jeans to church is always appropriate, but you could always wear a button down shirt with a pair of nice jeans for a family gathering, or even to a coffeehouse with your date. Women like sharp-dressed men. Seriously!

Those are the main things. Modesty in your language is good too. Don't speak in a degrading manner about women EVER. Even when they are not around. Don't use bad language in your everyday conversation. Women shouldn't speak degradingly about men, either Or use bad language. These actions are completely unchristian.

So this section got away from me a bit, but all of this does still apply to relationships. Ladies, it's hard for a young man to think pure thoughts about a young woman who is wearing short shorts and a low-cut tank top. You may say, oh they shouldn't be looking, but guys are hardwired to desire us, okay? So we should help them not fall prey to sexual sin and dress accordingly. Also, guys, ladies really do appreciate it when you go the extra mile and dress up for her.

Personality (or People Just Don't Change)
A good friend suggested I mention the fact that people don't change easily. If you are in a relationship and your bf/gf has some qualities or habits that you don't like, or are outright wrong, do not expect him/her to change once you are married. It doesn't work that way. The older people get, the more they are set in their ways, whether good or bad. God can and does change people, but you shouldn't simply expect it to happen. The sad truth is that it usually doesn't. Again, breakups are never easy. If a breakup is easy for you, then maybe you didn't care as much about that person as you thought you did. At any rate, it's better to have a broken heart for a time than to create a rift in a marriage fifteen years down the road. Not that broken marriages are always avoidable. People are inherently sinful. (How many times have I said that now???) But please realize that it's a lot simpler to break up with someone while you are young and not married than to go through a divorce when you have children. A couple of guys I dated had habits and qualities that I was unsure about, and thankfully God helped me to overcome the fear of getting hurt/hurting them.

Conclusion
Sorry, that got super long...gosh. I suppose by now it is painfully obvious that I feel very strongly about things like this. I hope I covered everything, though I know I couldn't possibly have done so. If you would like to further discuss these two posts or just an aspect of them, please message me on Facebook or email me at mara_jade1510@hotmail.com. I will gladly talk to you.

Also, I know that the only Bible verses I even mentioned were from Song of Solomon. The Bible is FULL of verses to help young men and women along the path of life. I didn't post any specific verses because I know that each of you who reads this will probably think of different verses that apply to each section. :)

relationships

Recently, on Facebook, I posted a link to this article. It deals with the teachings of "emotional purity" and the notion that Christians should stay as far away from the dating scene as possible. Read the article if you wish, but you don't have to.

So, how should Christians face relationships and finding their future spouse?

Granted, I am not an expert on this. I'm basically just giving my two cents on the issue. I did date boys while I was a teenager. I frequently was looked down upon and shamed because of this. Other kids I knew did this to me, as did their parents. And to be honest, my choices of a boyfriend weren't always the smartest. But that's how I learned. And thankfully, God helped me through it and lead me to meet my wonderful husband.

There's nothing wrong with dating, okay? Just because you go to a coffeehouse or to a movie (not my favorite idea for early dates, though, since you can't really talk and get to know one another) or for a walk in the park together, alone, does not mean you are sinning. If you hold hands, you are not sinning. If you even kiss, that's okay. As long as you do not lead each other into sexual situations you are okay. And trust me, the temptation will be there. God gave us physical attraction, so in itself it isn't wrong. But you should probably set boundaries for yourself. And follow them. But also remember that if something does happen between you and your boyfriend or girlfriend, there is still forgiveness. I'm not really going to go into teen pregnancies and such, because I have no experience with that and thus am not qualified to write on the subject. But the point I want you to remember is that we are all human and therefore inherently sinful. Things will happen, no matter how hard we try to prevent them. This is true of all areas of life and it is no different when it comes to boyfriend/girlfriend relationships.

So there is nothing wrong with dating. And your parents should definitely have a say in when you're old enough to date, etc, if you are yet a teenager. Once out of the house, it'll be different in each family. And certainly don't be angry if your parents set rules for dating, because they are looking out for you. Seriously. I had many an argument with my parents that I would like to take back. If you're reading this and you are out of your parents' house, I suggest that you not be afraid to ask your parents for advice! Other family members, as well. They went through this stage of life, too. And they've also known you your whole life; your parents are most likely very good judges on who would be a good husband or wife for you, even though the choice should ultimately be up to you.

Those are the basics of how I feel about dating and relationships. It all comes down to your faith, your character, and remembering that nobody is perfect. I like to use the phrase "everything in moderation" to describe most of life. There is a good middle ground for most things, and in this almost completely amoral culture, we as Christians have to remember that we are just as sinful as those who are not believers. Being humble and willing to take responsibility are two qualities you almost must have in order to build a solid relationship. And being strong in your faith in Jesus Christ will help you a lot. As far as religion goes, remember that dating outside the faith is very hard. You will be put in more compromising situations than ever, because those who are not believers don't usually hold the same standards. But also remember that there are so many different denominations within Christianity, and that will also lead to strife. Trust me, I dealt with this so many times that I was ready to give up.

A few other things and then I will be done.

You also want to consider the things like his or her personality and interests. Just because she's hot does not mean she would be a good partner. Just because he's cute and dresses well does not mean he would be a good partner. But the thing is, these aren't even the most important things. Looks (that physical attraction I mentioned earlier) are definitely helpful in the search for a spouse. And boys, you may notice a pretty girl and take her on a date to the park and then realize afterwards that it just won't work. But you tried. And you may even try for a few more dates. That's okay. Girls, that's okay.

Broken hearts happen. You will date the wrong person. But we heal. God made our hearts to hold so much love in them. Just because Alicia breaks up with Dan doesn't mean she has been ruined for her future spouse. Just because you said "I love you" to more than one boyfriend/girlfriend in your life doesn't mean you don't have all of your heart to give your husband/wife at the altar. Just because you kissed all three of the boyfriends you had doesn't mean that the man you marry somehow lost those kisses, or something. I can't understand that line of thinking, and it's not Christian in the least. God IS love, so why should we not have the capacity to love so much? (Of course, this doesn't mean that you should be able to say "well I still love so-and-so even though I'm married now..." That is wrong.)

Bottom line is this:
Everything in moderation.
Rely on your faith.
Remember that we are poor, miserable sinners and that absolutely no one on this earth is perfect.
Make sure you enjoy spending time with the person!
And don't be afraid of advice.

***********************************

I hope this all makes sense. I could talk on this for hours, but translating my thoughts on something like this into the written word is difficult. I just want my fellow Christians to realize that they should stop looking down on others for dating, etc. I want them to realize that people make mistakes. If no one ever made mistakes, well, then why did Christ come?

But I digress.
Have a wonderful Sunday, everyone!

newness and renewal

I like spring.

I know we celebrated Easter a few weeks ago, but during the month of May I think about Easter everyday.
Looking outside, I see trees that are covered in blossoms.
The tulip bulbs that I planted last fall have grown and transformed into gorgeous royal purple flowers.
Of the herbs I recently planted, my cress has started growing, and fast.
And the dandelions are going to seed all over the place.

Springtime is a time of newness and renewal, which is why it's a perfect time for us to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord.

(Photos taken with Hipstamatic and/or Instagram.)


John 11:25-26
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. (NIV)

disenchantment

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines disenchant as "to free from illusion".
Well, I'm here to state that though I have never been fully enchanted by the popular culture today, I am disenchanted by it in almost all aspects.
What we need today is a true disenchantment with Hollywood, the "music" industry, and even the world of politics. The latter is not something I will rant about today.

My true disenchantment with Hollywood became complete when a few of my favorite wholesome books were realized in the utterly wrong way onscreen. After viewing The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, I felt nothing but disappointment, ire, and sadness. The filmmakers took a wonderful Christian story and turned it into New Age spiritual nonsense about defeating the darkness inside yourself. Instead of being a beautiful journey to the End of the World and Aslan's Table, it became a completely me-centered adventure. The themes of sacrifice and redemption were almost nonexistent. To be brutally honest, I was appalled. Why did Hollywood have to change the story at all?

As far as the last installment of Harry Potter goes, I don't actually want to get into that. But I will say one thing: for the entire series, I was upset because Hollywood changed things and left huge gaps in the story. Yet when it came to Deathly Hallows Part Two, I was shocked at how empty it felt. Again, the underlying themes which are so obvious in J.K. Rowling's books were just not there. Why?

Well, Hollywood, it's because you don't even know what sacrifice, redemption, and true love look like.
I pray for celebrities as a whole, but it's hard to allow a smidgen of hope for most of the actors and singers and talent-less socialites that make up Beverly Hills and more.
You know why I sometimes wish for old Hollywood?
For the actors and actresses that played parts in black and white films?
Because at least they didn't flaunt their perverted and screwed up lives.
It wasn't "okay to be gay" and even though some of those men were, they didn't make it obvious.
It wasn't okay to be promiscuous and have children out of wedlock, so things were kept under wraps.
I'm certainly not trying to say that old Hollywood had better morals than today; in reality they were no different.
They just kept things clean on the outside, for the most part.
Films didn't need an R rating, or heaven forbid, an NC-17.
Television wasn't so graphic that all you see is body parts and buckets of blood.
Nudity wasn't acceptable onscreen.
Profanity was kept to a minimum.
Yeah, okay, everyone smoked and drank, but I think that's minor compared to other things.

What has happened to America? To the world? I do not find it acceptable when I go to a movie theater and the teenagers in the row in front of me are talking in such a way that their entire conversation should be bleeped out. On Sunday my pastor talked about going to sporting events and feeling like he should be wearing headphones, or even sitting in a coffee shop and feeling the same way. I know exactly how he feels.

I know I mentioned the "music" industry at the beginning of this post, but I'll save that for another day.
What I will say is that when we have people like Lady Gaga and her horrible song called "Judas", rock groups and rappers that scream strings of profanities and glorify drugs and pre-marital sex and same-sex relationships, I actually am half-okay with someone like Justin Bieber. At least he is still clean, for the most part. I just pray he doesn't go the way of Miley Cyrus and the rest of them.

My prayer and hope is that one day soon America will grow disenchanted with its own popular culture. The comments I read on YouTube videos and internet news stories show that this isn't going to happen to the general public anytime soon. I will place blame partially on education, because so many of the people that spend their time commenting online clearly don't know what they're talking about.

But now I charge my fellow Christians with something. Please, please, please stop trying to make yourself, your church, your music, and God "culturally relevant". That's not the point. Peter writes the following:


"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belong to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." (1 Peter 2:9).


Two verses later, he charges Christians with this:

"Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." (1 Peter 2:11-12).


Always remember that we are set apart from the world because of Christ's sacrifice for us. This sacrifice and our subsequent salvation gives us cause to live good lives and do good deeds. Christ gave His all that we might stand before God in heaven and be washed clean. Why do we not remember this more and show it during our lives here on earth?

I may be disenchanted with popular culture in general, but I think the time has come to allow an even greater disenchantment: Christians need to step away from being culturally relevant and hold the Gospel high. We need to show Hollywood and the rest of the world that we are different. If all we do is try to fit in, then that's all we ever will be: conformists.

And we shouldn't be.
Let the world be disenchanted by bubblegum Christianity.
Let the harshness of the Law be brought to light that the power of the Gospel may shine all the more.
I, for one, will gladly proclaim my Savior's grace and mercy everywhere I go.

To read a book for the first time is to make an acquaintance with a new friend; to read it for a second time is to meet an old one. ~Chinese saying

Greetings, my friends.

Yes, I have created another blog. I have two already, one for my thoughts and nonsense, and the other for the poetry that I write. This one, however, is where I will record the books I read and what I think about them, and of course, if I would recommend them to you. I probably won't update this blog often, especially while in the midst of college, but I shall do my best. This first post is going to pay homage to a series which became an instant classic when the first book was released --

Harry Potter.

I reread (again!) the entire series in a month, just shy of a month ago. Let me tell you, seven books is a lot to read in that amount of time. But I had set myself a goal of finishing book seven before classes began. Unfortunately, I did not quite meet that goal, but I was finished within the first week of class! Now, I reread this series not only because the first part of the seventh movie is being released in November, but because this is a series which holds such a dear place in my heart. I feel as if Harry Potter and Ron Weasley are my best friends. I don't include Hermione Granger in this merely because I feel as if I am her. In all the literature that I've read in my life, there hasn't been a character I could identify more closely with. Maybe a close second would be Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables, or perhaps Jo March in Little Women.
Why is it that stories like that of Harry Potter and his struggles against Lord Voldemort stick out so strongly in our minds? I think it is because in stories like these, good triumphs over evil in the end. The bad guys may win some of the battles, but they don't win the war. That's not the way it works. We as humans want something like this. In spite of all the bad things in our world, we want to know that good will win out. We want to have that hope.
Being a Christian, I do have that hope. It is the hope for eternity, that all that is unclean and "bad" will be destroyed in the end. So many Christians who see the Harry Potter series as promoting the occult need to look more closely. These are not books about the magic specifically; the world the story is set in is magical, but there are clearly defined lines between good magic and Dark magic. This is no different than Chronicles of Narnia, or Lord of the Rings.

My point is, I love the Harry Potter series and the characters as if they were my own friends and family. I can return to Hogwarts School at any time in my mind if I just open one of the books. I think this is what great books are supposed to be -- close friends that we may turn to at any moment we need them.