Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"Bonhoeffer" by Erick Metaxas is a page-turner, and it isn't even fiction - it's history.  I've been captivated to the point of not wanting to put the book down in order to go to bed, captivated at the stellar integrity, extreme faith, perseverance, high intelligence, insight into human nature, and dedication to living a life pleasing to God that this man possessed.
Many probably have not heard of Bonhoeffer, but he's a World War II German who never fired a shot but who saved the lives of many.  Beyond devouring the details of this extraordinary man's life and deep insight into God's Word, I've been made clearly aware of the truths about which he wrote prolifically and profoundly in teachings, sermons, and countless letters to those who knew him; most profoundly I've been made aware of my own lack of discipline and study of God's Word in my life. 
Bonhoeffer saw the Germans and German Christians taken in by Hitler's promise of a return to glory of former days for Germany and did all he could to prevent it.  Even now, I see that the enemy of our souls hasn't given up on destroying the Church, the body of Christ, and he never will.  He simply changes tactics.  Hitler's attack of the Church and the Jewish people eventually destroyed him, but the Church and the Jews still remain.  Such brazen and brutal methods for destroying God's people, both Christian and Jewish, have now been replaced with more subtle methods, undermining the core beliefs of God's Word by eroding the very ground on which Christ's Church was built.  Mushy, spineless faith is commonplace; deep thinking is unheard of.  We are too busy, too captivated and enthralled by technology and entertainment to give thought to anything more than what's for dinner tonight or what movie we're going to see this weekend.
Bonhoeffer was a very deep theologically-minded man.  He inspired countless people during his lifetime and, thanks to the skillful writing of Metaxas, he still inspires people today.  His story reveals the struggles of the German Christians and those who opposed Hitler's rise to power; it's the personal history of Germany seen through the life of Bonhoeffer.  I recommend it to anyone who has the desire to know God more deeply, to understand the struggles of the Church, to experience the fear of the German people during Hitler's reign of terror, and to be exposed to Bonhoeffer's theological studies and disciplines.
I've been devouring this story, this 572-page book (in a small font!) for over a week during my lunch hour at work, during breakfast at home, and in the evening.  With about 120 pages left to read, I won't finish it tonight.
Bonhoeffer never lived to see his 40th birthday; he was executed by the Nazis two weeks before the Allied liberation.  His life as pastor, prophet, martyr and spy had come to an end, yet I know that I will meet him someday. 

Goals

With the calendar flipping over into a new year, I'm setting goals just like most of you, but first on my list is to make a list of goals both for myself and with my husband.  This won't be easy, I can assure you, as one of us is more relaxed about the future than the other.  Maybe "relaxed" isn't the right word, so I should probably change that to unconcerned. 
I had received a gift card to a book store for Christmas, so last evening I went there and purchased 2 books with the intention of actually reading some deep writing, something to make me think deeply and consider the blessings in my life more fully.  The two books I bought were "Bonhoeffer" and "The Complete C.S. Lewis Signature Classics" consisting of "Mere Christianity," "The Screwtape Letters" (which I may have read in my younger years, but I'm not sure), "The Abolition of Man," "The Great Divorce," "The Problem of Pain," "Miracles," and "A Grief Observed."  Having begun to devour the C.S. Lewis book, I realize that he was a deep thinker who put his thoughts precisely on paper, dissecting them and laying them out in orderly fashion, yet the subjects about which he wrote were often ordinary.  Too busy to do this in our day and time, even though we have a great tool in the computer, we rush through our days and give little thought to more than what's for dinner or where we need to take the kids after school.  Sadly, our thoughts swim in a shallow pond and don't delve into deep ocean waters that can hold both mysteries and understanding.  And so my journey into deeper waters begins with C.S. Lewis.
I've heard of Dietrich Bonhoeffer but know the barest of facts about him.  I probably won't get to that book until the summer, not wanting to just read C.S. Lewis's stories as a butterfly flitting on the wind.  I want to get some meat out of them. 
With my thoughts tilted toward deeper reading, my heart leans toward a deeper walk with God.  Everyday living has a way of sucking the very life from our bones, leaving us dry and withered, unproductive and somewhat hopeless.  I've been there and have felt the crush of responsibility robbing me of life's simple pleasures.  One of my goals is to live more fully, and if that means dust balls rolling through the house in order for me to spend time with my grandkids, so be it.  I'm certainly not getting any younger, and only God knows the number of my days, so I want to laugh more, work less, love more, and work less.  More of God; more fun and more laughter; more of family and more of friends.  It won't happen unless I change my habits; it won't happen unless I make deliberate choices to make it happen.  I'll need to stay focused on my goals and pray that God will help me see things more clearly in light of eternity.
My grandson Niland called me today and invited me to dinner, telling me I could help him fix my favorite dish and I could eat half of it.  He told me he loved me and missed me; I last saw him on Christmas Day, and I was thinking about him just before he called.  Benny chimed in after Niland, and it broke my heart that work has kept me from them.  I saved the precious message on my phone, called back during my break, and arranged for them to spend the night Saturday.  That's living more fully!  I can't wait to hug them!