First and foremost thank you to all of you who have read my past blogs and my book, ” Homey’s Adventures” . I thought you all might want a different perspective than my own. My sister has graciously wrote a book review and it follows:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, it does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 1 Corinthians 13: 4 -8
One of my favorite books I have read recently which carries the message of this scripture is “The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and The Horse” by Charlie Mackesy.
The book has an unusual format that initially looks like a children’s book, but it is a book written for anyone who can read, from eight to eighty plus. Charlie Mackesy is a cartoonist and book illustrator who has collaborated with Richard Curtis and Nelson Mandela. HIs art, like the words they illustrate, is simple but powerful; warm and funny but profound.
The story is about four characters, a boy, a mole, a fox, and a horse: The boy is lonely when the mole first surfaces. They spend time together gazing into the wild. I think the wild is a bit like life – frightening sometimes but beautiful. In their wanderings they meet the fox. It is never going to be easy meeting a fox if you are a mole. The boy is full of questions, the mole is greedy for cake, the fox is mainly silent and wary because he has been hurt by life. The horse is the biggest thing they have ever encountered, and the gentlest. They are all different, like us, and each has their own weaknesses. I can see myself in all four of them, perhaps you can too.”
Here are some of my favorite parts that relates to these scriptures:
1. “What do you think success is?” asked the boy – “to love”, said the mole.
2. “Sometimes I feel lost”, said the boy – “Me too” said the molo, but we love you and love brings you home.”
3. (towards the end of book) – “I’ve realized why we are here”, whispered the boy. – “For cake?” asked the mole. “To love.” said the boy. “And be loved” said the horse. “What do we do when our hearts hurt?”, asked the boy. “We wrap them with friendship, shared tears and time, til they make hopeful and happy again” (the horse).
These four characters have more of these simple and sweet conversations about facing fear, asking for help, being authentic, refusing to give up, being kind to yourself and then to others, and more.
It is so simple, then why don’t we do it more often? I believe we choose. We choose to hate over kindness or love. We choose to be self-centered because we believe we will then get what we want. We become proud because we do not love ourselves enough so that we can accept who we are. It takes courage to be authentic or feels silly to ask for help -“what a looser”. We become a prisoner to fear, anger or self-righteousness. And the further we move away from love, the more lost we become. When you read 1 Corinthians 13 you need to believe these words are true and if you choose to love that you will rejoice in the truth…and hope all things. I love that in this sweet book, that Charlie Mackesy wrote, the mole decides that a hug is better than cake because it lasts longer. Try it next time you are feeling down; ask someone for a hug or read the book, “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse. It is a good book if you are hurting or need a friend.
Sharol Wish
Jim believes that God’s greatest gift is love. His love doesn’t stop and he has given us many wonders like a rainbow over the Grand Canyon.
If you want to know more about Jim and Homey, then please go to my website: http://www.homeysadventures.com. You can read the first two chapters for free and order the book via the website. You can also order my book on Amazon and many other book retailers. Just search for it using the words: “Homey’s Adventures” by Jim Wish.
Jimwish.com 