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Christianity Today, September (Web-only), 2007 |

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Supernatural Sagas of Good and Evil

The foolish things of Madeleine L'Engle.

Cheryl Forbes | posted 9/07/2007 02:39PM

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Each book progresses in the concepts it deals with: time, space, and then how time and space play on each other. It also progresses in the demands made on the participants in the tales. You might almost say that Meg, in particular, is commanded to grow. In Wrinkle, she loves her family and her friends; she cannot yet love her enemies. But to save her brother she must conquer hate with love. Since she cannot love the enemy, IT, who has her brother, she lets her love for her brother, which IT cannot overcome, dominate her mind.

In Door, if she cannot learn to love her enemies, then Charles Wallace, endangered by a disease, will die. The cherubim Blajeny, much as the Holy Spirit does for Christians, helps her do that.

Meg plays a lesser role in Planet. This time Charles Wallace is the active character, she the passive. She supports him with her love, but she must let go of him, and allow him to face the dangers without her presence. She has learned the final lesson of love, that of surrender and sacrifice.

Some people have criticized L'Engle's books as having characters who are too good, too smart, too unbelievable. Each of them, though, has deep flaws: pride, lack of faith, distrust of others. But still they are used. Mrs. Who cites a Bible passage near the end of Wrinkle. I think it is a fitting summary of what L'Engle tries to teach in these books:

The foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring-to nought things that are (1 Cor. 1:25-28).

Related elsewhere:

Madeline L'Engle died Thursday, September 6, of natural causes.

Christianity Today interviewed her in 1979.

Our sister publications Books & Culture, Christian History & Biography, and Re:generation have more on L'Engle and her spiritual journey.

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t	Posted: September 10, 2007 6:55 AM

Enoch-- Besides the fact that it is extremely rude to speak ill of the dead, your comment is lacking in accuracy and Christlike compassion. Who are you to say who will go to hell and who will not? Even if she were indeed the 'chiefest of sinners,' it is not for you to judge. You're not accurate, either. She does not blaspheme God in any interview I have ever read. Misinterpretation is probably the problem. She may be pointing out the way something _is_ rather than how it should be, or else stating a viewpoint that disagrees with your beliefs rather than with Christianity itself. Also, take _anything_ that you read on the web (yes, even this comment) with a grain of salt. _Anyone_ can post on the Internet-- it's not a Biblical source of truth.

deborah

Posted: September 09, 2007 12:24 AM

I feel very sorry for enoch and his spewful words of hate. Jesus teaches us to love one another. To forgive and show mercies and loving kindness. Madeleine was my teacher at UBC summer school. I learned much from her and was embraced by her message of forgiveness. She embodied Jesus' teachings and truly created literary characters that live today in people's hearts. I will miss her presence on this earth but look forward to meeting her again in Heaven.

enoch

Posted: September 08, 2007 6:40 PM


search the web for her interviews and you will find her blaspheming God in a most vulgar and disgusting way. Why are we so obsessed with the world and why are we seeking approval or a smallest sign of affection from it. The lady should repent, believe in Jesus and get saved, cause she is going to hell...

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