IN DEFENSE OF FICTION

I am a reader. I have been my whole life. I don't remember learning to do it, just that I always have. Books are like old friends. They comfort me. I enjoy the way they feel when I hold them. I enjoy the way they sound when I fan their pages. I enjoy the way they smell when I sniff them...Yes, I sniff them.

I am a connoisseur of a wide variety of genres, both fiction and non-fiction. At any given time, I am in the process of reading one or two of each. Most of my reads are Christian works, but I'm not above delving deep into the autobiography of an inspirational secular success story.

Occasionally, I receive negative feedback from folks who see fiction as completely worthless. Reading fiction requires wisdom and discretion on the part of the reader.  I will admit that many fiction writers waste their talent on mindless manuscripts and sensual drivel.  If this is the sort of thing you're mentally and visually ingesting, Congratulations! You are what you read. Junk in, junk out.

Good fiction, however, teaches. Good fiction has been researched. Good fiction moves people to make better life choices.

Much knowledge can be gleaned from fictional works that you wouldn't take the time to research yourself. This knowledge, even though learned "by accident", lies dormant to be referenced in the future.

Oh, and by the way, Jesus often taught in parables, which are fictional stories used to relate a lesson, moral or truth.

"And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, behold, a sower went forth to sow..."

ONE GARMENT

Several years ago, I saw a documentary about a lady who got rid of all her clothes and purchased seven blue dresses. All seven were exactly alike -royal blue, cut a few inches below the knee, three-quarter length sleeves, modest neckline, belted at the waist. A very practical choice for wearing every day. And that is exactly what she did.

Her reasoning for making this life choice was that she had found herself caring too much about her physical appearance and what people thought about her looks. She had decided to focus, instead, on her character. So, she intentionally chose an outfit that would not draw attention to what people saw, but what people felt when they were in her presence.

Now, if I were choosing a garment to wear every single day, this particular blue dress would not be the one. The thought makes me rather squeamish. I definately, without any need to think further, would choose black. Straight, but not binding. No pleats. Hanging just above my ankles so that it swished when I walked, maybe a spandex-mix with some stretch, three-quarter length sleeves, modest neckline, and of course, wrinkle-free.

I know many of you are cringing right now at my choice, or perhaps just at the thought of wearing the same garment every day. These feelings only accentuate the need to choose wisely. This is the one garment that I would choose in the natural, and I'm very comfortable with my choice. But if I had to choose one spiritual garment, what would it be?

Isaiah 61:1-3 talks about a Garment that is given by God, himself. 1The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

2To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

3To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

If I had to choose only one spiritual garment, it would be the Garment of Praise. This garment covers a multitude of error. If I have leaned too much to the flesh on any given day, the solution is to Praise God. If I have been in want for anything, the solution is to Praise God. If I have been confused, the solution is to Praise God. If I have been offensive or been offended, the solution is to Praise God. If I have allowed my emotions to get the better of me, the solution is to Praise God. If my spirit has been depressed or riddled with anxiety, the solution is to Praise God.

The Garment of Praise is like a warm cloak on a cold, winters day or a protective shade from the raging sun. Yes, when people see me, I want them to see me wearing my Garment of Praise every day.