I mentioned earlier that I had recently read Stephen King’s Lisey’s Story. I have never been much into reading thriller or horror novels, or modern novels at all for that matter. But I was interested in this book for at least two reasons. One, I had read King’s On Writing which I found to be a fascinating window into the world of the writer. Secondly, we have met some new friends, Brian and Marni, a young couple down the street. Marni comes from King’s home town and knows him.
So, I read Lisey’s Story and I am now reading It, which Marni, a writer herself, tells me is King’s scariest. In between Barb had me read a Dean Koontz novel The Taking (the back cover blurb says something about Koontz being the master of all our darkest fears).
One day a few weeks ago, I was juggling in my mind all my deepest anxieties and ‘darkest fears’. This wasn’t some kind of spiritual exercise or psychological discipline. I was just worried and fearful. The weight of my anxiety made me want to simply run to my bedroom and take up the book I was reading (the Koontz novel) and read.
That’s when it struck me as odd, this wanting to escape. I was wanting to flee from my own fears by reading of the imaginary fears of others.
I suppose I should find something profound in that. Obviously, my fears are to find their relief in the good and faithful providence of God. And obviously, to find mental relief in a good book is, in moderation, no sin.
But it simply struck me as odd that I would divert myself from my real fears by focusing on fictional fears. To what degree does this explain the phenomenal sales of books such as these? And for how many are such things the only salve for their fears?
MagistraCarminae
We were just talking about escape last night in my women’s bible study. We are reading a book together called “Peace Making Women”, and in the section on “Conflicts Within”, the authors discuss ungodly shame (which is a feeling that is not directly correlated to a real sense of guilt), depression and fear. “Escape” as a route of avoidance was one of the things we discussed. Elijah tried it when he was plain worn out after Mt. Carmel. More than a few of us have used this to procrastinate on dealing with the real issues, so I think you are in good company!! As we discussed this last night, we decided that the antedote to those things that make us want to escape is to remember who we are in Christ: purchased, loved first, held onto by a mighty and Sovereign hand, delighted in. Sometimes remembering that that requires real discipline, coralling my feelings, and gathering my thoughts on the Truth, and that’s hard work! It’s much easier to read my novel…*sigh*I’ll pray for you, and you pray for me! 😉