Last week my ambitious reading project hit a road block... I got really busy. I couldn't lose myself in a story for an hour at a time and I was often falling asleep with the book across my face at night. It brought my reading speed down to a crawl and provoked a quick substitution. After a recent run of fiction I had every intention to dive into something more substantial; "With Christ in the School of Prayer" by Andrew Murray. A few pages in however I realised this was not a pick-up-put-down read. This tome will take perseverance! So, in the midst of many priorities vying for my time I swapped it for a book I'd been looking forward to reading, but knew I could abandon when needed... Anne of Green Gables.
I felt bad. Once more my good intentions were put aside. But, I do agree with Paul Scanlon who said last week, "It's not just about the right book to read but the right time to read it." Murray - I will return - I just want to give you my full concentration...
Having said that, I was surprised by what I found in the covers of AOGG. The tale of Anne Shirley and her growth from childhood to womanhood is amusing, moving and a surprisingly insightful spiritual journey. Not only does Anne grow in knowledge, wisdom and character, but she makes amazing observations on the Christian life and particularly prayer. When she arrived at the home of Matthew and Marilla Cuthburt, she may not have known the 'proper' way to pray, but she had the most amazing, instinctual grasp of talking with God. She embodies one of the most beautiful examples of contemplative prayer I've read. I may use it as an illustration some time.
The book was surprisingly challenging and thoroughly entertaining, I immediately mooched the next booked in the series for later this year. For now I've picked up A Wind in the Door, the second book in the Madeleine L'Engle series.