Gazing Outward

I just finished reading one of my favorite books. Yes, it is one I've read several times - and no, it isn't a parenting book!

Written in 1955 it captures an interesting perspective on life and good reminders even for today. As I was just purusing the web to figure out when it was written, I stumbled upon some very interesting history about the author and her husband. Funny how you can be so diligently into something then get completely sucked in to something else...

Anyway, now the book has an even different meaning or significance to me. Anne Morrow Lindbergh wrote, Gift from the Sea, a look at life in the areas of love, family and work. She wrote it while vacationing alone at the beach. The simple things of the beach taught her some profound lessons for her busy life back home. Using seashells, Lindbergh captures these ideas to share with her readers.

Lindbergh discusses life's challenges from a woman's perspective in an ever changing world. In the 1950's life really did change, but not any more than now. We have all the modern conveniences that were founded through those years (and more), and we face great challenges, as did her generation.

One of my favorite quotes from her book is actually a quote from Saint-Exupery - "Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction."

To me such a thought-provoking quote. But I won't bore you with all my thoughts about it, just leave it for you to mull over...

What makes this quote and Lindbergh's book more interesting is that both she and her husband (Charles Lindbergh) had affairs. During my sidetracking, I was intrigued by this, because in her book she talks at length about marriage and keeping it together. She even offers simple advice on how to "look outward together."

And as I write this, I am reminded that no one is immune to such faults or temptations. Even those we seem to want to esteem or honor, even they fall.

King David comes to mind as well, wasn't he to be esteemed? And didn't he fall hard? But yet God's grace covers him. How much more now do I want to gaze in the right direction!

From my thoughts, to the blogosphere...to you,

Anna