What I am reading

I’ve have all run out of steam, oomph, verve, chutzpah, ebullience ... for writing lately.

But I started reading Bonhoeffer, by Eric Mataxas this week. I don’t know why it has taken me so long to begin, when I received it almost a year ago and have been keen to read it. It went to the top shelf of the book case and sat there, but I was reminded of it by the recent birthday of the giver, and pulled it down.

I am not far in, but am so far engrossed. I had such a sob over the death of Dietrich’s brother Walter in WWI last night – it was perhaps just the opportunity provided for one – that it was almost as sad as reading of the death of Anne and Gilbert’s son Walter at war in Rilla of Ingleside. Years ago I cried for an entire day of holidays over the death of Walter Blythe and never did get over that childhood story.

But this hymn was sung at Walter Bonhoeffer’s funeral, when Dietrich was twelve years old, and it seems almost prophetic of the life he was himself to live:

The patriarchs’ and prophets’ noble train,

With all Christ’s followers true,

Who bore the cross and could the worst disdain

That tyrants dared to do,

I see them shine forever,

All-glorious as the sun,

Midst light that fadeth never,

Their perfect freedom won.

And then this is the hymn that Walter and Dietrich’s mother chose to be sung as his coffin was carried down the aisle:

What God has done, it is well done.

His will is always just.

Whatever He will do to me,

In Him I’ll ever place my trust

This is extraordinary, considering that in agony of Walter’s death and a third son being called up to war she collapsed and was unable to get out of bed for weeks, and she would eventually lose three of her four sons to the World Wars.

I’m looking forward to reading on in this book.