Recently I've been reading a book called "A Place Called Morning," by Ann Tatlock. It's a Christian book and I very rarely read Christian book for pleasure. It's actually been perfect considering everything that's going on right now. The main character in the book is named Mae.
At the beginning of the book, Mae talks about how growing up she felt like she lived in a bubble. She felt like tragedy could not get in this bubble and that her and her family were safe from any and all danger. I feel like I relate to this so much. I have been so blessed. I had a safe childhood. I was happy. I mean, yes, I came from a family that could be considered broken, but I don't ever remember that truly affecting my happiness. I'm 21 years old and I have never been close to death. No relatives and no friends. Of course, I've seen death. There have been distant friends, people I went to school with or people that I knew of.
I feel like the past few weeks have really opened my eyes to the fact that I'm not in a bubble. I'm not necessarily safe from tragedy and I should not be living so carelessly as if I am. This recent devastating tornado in Joplin really has affected me more than I ever though it could. Normally when big tornadoes happen, they are in far off towns that I've never heard of. This was in Joplin. Joplin, MO. The town that I have had so memories and I'm not even one of the thousands of people living there. I know people there. A lot of people. I know places there. It's just such a bizarre feeling.
In my book when Mae realizes that she is not in a bubble she is hit hard. Her brother dies, at a young age, soon followed by her mother a few years later, then her father, then her husband a few years later. All of these people were young at the time of their deaths. After these four deaths she became very beaten down, and then after an accident that took place in her house, she feels responsible for the death of her grandson. Not even 5 years later, while she is still mourning this loss, her house catches on fire and she loses everything. Two weeks after that, at the age of 52 she finds out that she was adopted as a baby.
Throughout the story she turns further and further away from God. While I have not finished the book, I know that she is about to have a major turning back to God.
The main thing that I am getting out of this story, combined with all the craziness of this past week, is to not pull away from God. I can't start blaming him and I can't turn my back on Him. Times of tragedy are the times that we should find comfort in the relationship that we have already built with God. It should make our relationship stronger, not weaker.
I just needed to share.
-Kristina
