Yea for a day off today!

I don't know what I'm going to do with my day today, other than my list of goals, lol! That leave a great deal of time for hanging out with my super-great Sweetie-pie.

We're almost done with a book about Sarai (Sarah) by Orson Scott Card. I'm sorry I can't recommend it. There's just some things about his very loose interpretations of actual events in scripture, and what I believe as very poor character developments of all the women in it in general. Since I have the time, I'll expound :^)

Many writers fall into the trap of writing four major caricatures of women. They are either the "ingenue"  -sweet, Innocent, lovely, sometimes coy and unintentionally seductive. There's the "whore" - gets what she wants through her feminine wiles. There's the "mother" cares for all and is long-suffering, patient, and kind. They don't actually have to be a mother in the story to be the "mother" in the story. The girl-next- door, for instance, is a mother figure, listening to everyone, facilitating the 'ah Ha' moments. Then there's the "crone". Sharp-tongued, cruel, selfish, nagging, etc. They are drawn as from young to old but in a story they can be any age and still fit easily into these stereotypes. I felt Card fell into this 2-dimensional characterization of his women. This is supposed to be a story about women and for women, but for me at least, he blew it big time.

Also, I was very disappointed in the way he rewrote events from scripture. I love fictional developments of scripture stories, but if you mess around with the fact, you blew it. Too many people don't study the scriptures as they should and get their "gospel" down stream from books like these so staying true is essential. The Work and the Glory series were a good example. I loved his reference material throughout his books.

Do you remember the story I used to share about "down-stream information"? Your Grandpa Ben grew up next to a creek with the spring just 1/4 mile above the house. Before the pipes where put in, he had to go to the spring to bring in their water for use in the house. He showed me how the cows came down to drink from the creek right there, behind the house. (They don't just drink while they're standing around.) Down stream, where others lived and ranches, there were other opportunities for the water to be fouled. "If you want pure water, you have to go to the source", He would say. Then he would teach, "It's the same with information. Always consider the source. How close to the 'spring' was it gathered?" I didn't hear the story over and over. He would just have to say, "Is that downstream information?" and we would know what he meant.

Go to the source when it comes to the important things in life. If you know the source, then you can't be fooled when others try to tell you their own brand of truth. The Gospel lens has to be kept spot-free to see clearly through it. That's why it's so important to go to your scriptures and to your knees every day.

I love you! You are my life and my joy!