Christy by Catherine Marshall: Read-Along Discussion 6

For information on the read-along head over to our host Amber's blog at Seasons of Humility This week we are discussing chapters 33-39.

QUOTES AND THOUGHTS:

"...I learned that true forgiveness includes total acceptance. And out of acceptance wounds are healed and happiness is possible again." Miss Alice's story was brutal. Such an awful thing for a young innocent girl. But I love how her community embraced her and loved her. And I especially love how her experience formed her faith. If the community had shunned her or condemned her I wonder if she would have had such a deep faith. Instead they showed her the love of God, forgiveness, cleansing, love. We all need that lesson of forgiving and loving our fellow Christ followers. 

"Such morbid introspection," Miss Alice added crisply, "was nonsense. Either God exists--or He does not. If He does, either an individual has a relationship with Him--or that relationship has been severed. Indigestion or arthritis can't change the bottom fact that God is or the unfailingness of a single one of his promises."I love this reminder that even when we cannot feel that God is with us we can know that He is. Our faith doesn't need to be based on an emotional experience or feeling. 

"Thee must know, Christy. My daughter Margaret Seebohn Henderson--became Dr. MacNeill's wife."This was no new revelation to me since I have read the book before. But the portrayal of Dr. MacNeill and his wife Margaret in the TV show and in the book are two very different scenario's. I prefer the book much better! She's dead before we even meet her! 

"Also, I saw for the first time that we have to accept people the way they are and not be shocked about anything." Easier said than done. People still manage to shock me!

"...I understood that the reason we have to accept other people is simply because God receives us just the way we are." And I'm forever grateful!

"I was wishing that I felt easier about Ruby Mae's decision, made while I was in Asheville to marry Will Beck. She was still not quite fifteen, Will only sixteen." Well yes, this did raise my eyebrows! How sad to be all worn out before you even reach 20! They are still children and being forced to act as adults! Ack! And the whole wedding scene was quite sad. 

"Once I had let David kiss me, a barrier had gone down; each kiss was easier and more natural than the last. So every time we were alone, David would reach out for me."

"What bothered me most was that though David acted as if he loved me, he never really used the words." Oh David! He is so lost. For a clergyman he has no concept of who God is and it shows in all of his actions and interactings. I think he has an affection for Christy, but I don't think he has a love for her. The condescending way he speaks to her when she is excited about a subject or when she comes to him with spiritual questions boggles my mind. I want to slap him silly and send him back to seminary! 

"Beyond that, however, my resentment was directed at God Almighty Himself. I wondered why Fairlight had been taken by typhoid rather than someone not quite bright or someone old and crippled, whose children were grown and whose life was almost over anyway? Why were the good and the beautiful so ruthlessly plucked?" Ahhhh, the question of the ages! Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? I think those of us who have been in church long enough have pat answers to this question, but that doesn't mean it still doesn't pop up in our heads when something happens that rocks our world a little bit. Christy's grief over Fairlight's dying was so heart-wrenching, but I loved how it sent her on a faith quest.

"Then, with an intuitive knowing, I had been sure that indeed it does matter how we live our lives, that there is One who cares. Thinking of that, I knew that it was wrong not to speak out my rebellion to the one at whom it was directed. I could at least give Him a chance to defend Himself." I love how she sought her answers from the Lord. 

"Christy, those who've never rebelled against God or at some point in their lives shaken their fists in the face of heaven, have never encountered God at all." God isn't going to get His feelings hurt. He can take our questioning, He can take our anger, He can take our sorrow. He can take all of that and give us a peaceful heart even when we don't understand why.

"I knew now: God is. I had found my center, my point of reference. Everything else I needed to know would follow." So true! On this journey of life if we keep our eyes focused on Him we will learn more about His character and our faith will deepen. Such a great reminder! 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Answer any or all three of these questions in the comments section or in your own blog post!

1. What do you think of the Folk School idea that Mrs. Browning shared with Christy? Do you feel like it would be beneficial to the people of the Cove? It sort of reminded me of a Montessori schooling. I think there are some communities that would definitely thrive in an education like that. I don't think it is for everyone though.

2. Do you find nighttime and darkness bothersome or appealing? Have your feelings changed since childhood?I really think that all children are afraid of the dark. Dark is associated with bad things happening. I prefer light, but when I sleep I want it totally dark. I get a bit disoriented in the dark and sometimes I wake at night and wonder what a noise I hear may be, but as an adult I think my perspective is a bit different than when I was a child. 

3. What are some of the things you hope will happen or be resolved in the last chapters? (Or, if you've already read the book, has anything stood out to you differently so far while reading the book this time around?)Since I have read the book before I do know what is going to happen. Ummm, I don't know that anything new has stood out in the book this time around. I do appreciate Miss Alice's steady faith and calmness. I appreciate her Quaker silences as well. I also appreciate how Christy has been able to work through her anger at God and her sorrow over losing Fairlight. Annndddd, it just occurred to me that I may want to give David a break...he too has questions, he just isn't vocal about them...

That wraps up this week's reading. Next week is our last week! We will be discussing Chapters 40-46. Hard to believe we are almost finished!