For some reason I can’t make myself finish the last 60 pages of Harry Potter. It’s so final. I know that once I’m done, I’m done, and I can never have that first time feeling of reading these books. I know that I promised to shut up about it, and I know it’s weird, but it has actually felt like a part of my life. I mean, I have been reading them for almost five months exactly now.
I remember where I was sitting or what happened on different days during different parts of these books. I would expand on all of this, but I’ve found someone who puts this to words far better than I ever could.
Sister #1 (http://stjoebabysupport.blogspot.com) sent me a link to one of our very favorite artist’s blog. It is amazing. For any and all of you out there that have gone on this Harry Potter journey and remember where you were sitting when someone died, or someone got hurt, or someone fell in love, it’s definitely worth checking out this Andrew Peterson post: http://www.rabbitroom.com/2011/07/harry-potter-jesus-and-me/
In case you don’t read the entire post, here’s the part I love the most. Thanks, Andrew, for so beautifully describing many people’s feelings about Harry, Ron, and Hermione. I too am enchanted by Hogwarts. And tonight, I promise, I will finish Harry Potter.
From Andrew Peterson:
After watching the fiery debate over the Harry Potter books, I wonder if any novel, Christian or otherwise, could withstand the theological nitpicking that’s been inflicted on Rowling, either in the work itself or the author’s worldview. Of course the books aren’t perfect; of course, in a seven-volume saga, there will be inconsistencies, theological inaccuracies, moments of inconsistency; of course Rowling’s worldview isn’t going to align perfectly with yours. If you only read books that met those criteria your list would be short indeed.
But listen: we’re free to enjoy the good and the beautiful, even from the most unlikely places. We’re free—and this is huge—to look for the light in people (and things!), to give them the benefit of the doubt, to laud their beauty, to outlove unloveliness–in short, to love as Christ loves us. That includes billionaire authors like J.K. Rowling. She didn’t grow up in the Bible Belt of America; she grew up in England. And yet, in defiance of a culture that tends to snub its nose at Christianity, she wrote a story that contains powerful redemptive themes, stirs a longing for life after death, piques the staunchest atheist’s suspicion that there just might be something beyond the veil, and plainly shows evil for what it is—and not just evil, but love’s triumph over it.
I really love Andrew Peterson. This is my favorite part of what he stated, "to look for the light in people (and things!), to give them the benefit of the doubt, to laud their beauty, to outlove unloveliness" It's like a mission statement. I may just blog about it, if you don't mind me "stealing" from you. It goes along with what I have been thinking lately.
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