Elwyn Brooks White an American writer once remarked: “A library is a good place to go when you feel unhappy, for there, in a book, you may find encouragement and comfort. A library is a good place to go when you feel bewildered or undecided, for there, in a book, you may have your question answered. Books are good company, in sad times and happy times, for books are people - people who have managed to stay alive by hiding between the covers of a book." Exodus 34:28 reminds us: “So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.”
Life might be compared to the refuge of a book. Its embodiment contains an outer cover that protects, the inner sanctum contains a beginning, a middle and an end. It is often considered a narration of an individual journey with differing complex chapters, tailor made with experiences, both joyful and sad. It may tell a simple story or contain suggestions, guidance or remedies. This comparison highlights that while some parts of life may be predestined (like one’s birth), people are the authors of their own controlled expedition and have the agency to "turn the page" and shape what happens next.
That may include experiencing life to its fullest, taking advantage of every opportunity. Drawing a parallel to fully engaging with the contents, chronicles, and adventures found within the covers of a book or it may be a personal expedition or journey of only static imagery where there is little movement or excitement. This may encourage one to become staid in their ways. Progression is important for continuous improvement, personal development, and avoiding plateaus in various aspects of life, including career, learning, and physical fitness. It involves setting and working toward new goals to develop skills, build confidence, increase productivity, and adapt to new challenges. As each page of a book is turned, so a new perspective often emerges.
Books can significantly influence and guide a person's life by offering new outlooks, imparting wisdom, and providing moral frameworks. However, its pages need to be turned to progress. The extent of this influence depends on the individual reader, the content of the book, and how the savant chooses to apply any lessons learned. The Bible is considered a divine book of guidance for Christians, providing instructions and advice on how to live according to God's will. It contains commands, wisdom principles, and teachings from Jesus to help believers navigate their daily lives and moral dilemmas. The Bible is a foundational text for Christianity and Judaism, viewed by believers not merely as a book, but as the inspired word of God, offering profound depths into the nature of reality, morality, purpose, and the human condition. Many individuals turn to the Bible for learning about religious history, moral principles, theology, and spiritual guidance.
The principal foundation of a person’s life determines its stability and the power to withstand during troubled times. There are two ways to build a life. In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus’ parable of the two builders, infers that hearing his teachings is not enough; it is crucial to put them into practice. The wise builder who hears and obeys Jesus is like one who builds a house on rock, which can resist storms. The foolish builder who hears but does not obey is like one who builds on sand, and their house will collapse during the inevitable storms of life. This passage emphasizes that true faith is demonstrated through action and obedience, which creates a lasting and firm foundation for life. The passage reminds us: “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
"Between the Covers," can shape individual life by influencing perspectives on relationships, history, and social issues, as well as fostering empathy and personal growth. Books introduce readers to different experiences and ideas, broadening horizons and encouraging reflection on bigger questions like grief, love, and the true reality of life's meaning. Many religions teach that God shapes a person's life through various means, such as by working in individuals to fulfill a purpose, guiding decisions, or transforming character over time. This can be understood as a process of divine guidance and spiritual transformation, where individuals can choose to align their lives with a higher power and, in doing so, allow for changes in their path and character. Some belief systems emphasize that God's will is ultimately in control, while others suggest a more cooperative relationship where God works with human free will.
"Sculptures of life" are generally used as a metaphor for the transformative nature of life itself or as a descriptive term for art that deals with themes of existence, change, and the human condition. Many sculptures have specific meaning, which can be symbolic, cultural, spiritual, or emotional. They can convey messages about history, beliefs, and values, or represent personal feelings and emotions through symbolism, materials, and form. The meaning is often a combination of the artist's intention and the viewer's unique interpretation based on their own life experiences.
Between each cover of a book there may be many thousands of words, each with individual meaning that can create new perspectives. Books have been said to become individual sculptures. This transformation often involves a sculptural practice known as book carving or book art (specifically altered books), where artists use various techniques to physically change a book's form into a three-dimensional work of art. Joan Didion, an American author once remarked: “Writing nonfiction is more like sculpture, a matter of shaping the research into the finished thing. Novels are like paintings, specifically watercolors. Every stroke you put down you have to go with. Of course you can rewrite, but the original strokes are still there in the texture of the thing.” Romans 12:2 reminds us: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
From a religious and spiritual perspective, it is widely believed that God can and does shape life through books, particularly through sacred texts like the Bible, the Quran, and other holy scriptures, as well as through other spiritually insightful literature. Hebrews 4:12-16 is a passage about God's powerful and penetrating word, and the mercy found in Jesus Christ, our great High Priest. It explains that God's word is “living and active,” capable of discerning the deepest thoughts and intentions of the heart. This exposes sin, but the passage concludes with the comforting assurance that because of Jesus, who was tempted and understands our weaknesses, believers can approach God's throne of grace with confidence to receive mercy and find help. It reminds us: “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Amen.
