Once again, the power of mentoring takes a book brings out more meaning to me. I don’t believe I would have had as many notes or thoughts without the guides I used to help me as I read this book. In this case I used Jacob Allee from Study the Great Books to help direct me as I read through this book for the first time. Several questions he posed:
One of the characters, Johnathan is exposed to ideas that he doesn’t quite understand but begins to fear states: “It is only when a man feels himself face to face with such horrors that he can understand their true import (Chapter 1).”
Wow. How that speaks to me. There have been times when I did not understand enough to know that something was wrong, so I accepted it as okay. Now I can see that it was so damaging and continues to create damage in others for the same reason. This could be as simple as a song or a book that is bent or broken. If we don’t know enough, we can take in ideas that will take years to label as wrong and then root out. It could shape our character in very negative ways without our even understanding the damage that has occurred.
How many times have I thought, ‘well it is not a big deal or not really my problem to say anything about’? When will it become my problem? Will it be too late if I wait until it affects me directly? As that wrong continues to grow it becomes harder and harder to root out. How big does the issue need to become before I actively do something about it? Will I ignore those that are trying to warn me in their limited way also? In the book Jonathan meets several people along the way that try to give him some warnings, one of the first “went down on her knees and implored me not to go”. Jonathan charged on because he didn’t fully understand and there was business that needed to be done. How am I like that?
After the death of a female character that unites the characters of this book to find a way to stop Dracula much sacrifice is required to learn what they can do to stop the wrong that is happening. The group of characters needs to keep at a problem that has many mysteries and scares them. They have determined that Dracula is the monster, but can they stop him? How do they stop him? Their search challenges their beliefs and ideas. Yet for the sake of love they continue searching. One of the best lines in the book occurs during this time of struggle:
“When he had finished he came back and sat near me, reading, so that I did not feel too lonely whilst I worked.
How good and thoughtful he is. The world seems full of good men, even if there are monsters in it (Chapter 17).”
The book ends with success because they can stop evil from destroying others’ innocence and lives. Now for me to apply that to my life. What ways do I need to prevent and stop the evils I see from destroying the innocence and lives of those around me? What do I do now? Who do I gather around me to help me as I fight the battles I see need fighting?
- Dracula is evil incarnate. Who can stop him?
- Who can save you and the others you love from his irrepressible grasp once he sets his sight upon you or someone you love?
- Where will you really, truly, and finally be safe?
One of the characters, Johnathan is exposed to ideas that he doesn’t quite understand but begins to fear states: “It is only when a man feels himself face to face with such horrors that he can understand their true import (Chapter 1).”
Wow. How that speaks to me. There have been times when I did not understand enough to know that something was wrong, so I accepted it as okay. Now I can see that it was so damaging and continues to create damage in others for the same reason. This could be as simple as a song or a book that is bent or broken. If we don’t know enough, we can take in ideas that will take years to label as wrong and then root out. It could shape our character in very negative ways without our even understanding the damage that has occurred.
How many times have I thought, ‘well it is not a big deal or not really my problem to say anything about’? When will it become my problem? Will it be too late if I wait until it affects me directly? As that wrong continues to grow it becomes harder and harder to root out. How big does the issue need to become before I actively do something about it? Will I ignore those that are trying to warn me in their limited way also? In the book Jonathan meets several people along the way that try to give him some warnings, one of the first “went down on her knees and implored me not to go”. Jonathan charged on because he didn’t fully understand and there was business that needed to be done. How am I like that?
After the death of a female character that unites the characters of this book to find a way to stop Dracula much sacrifice is required to learn what they can do to stop the wrong that is happening. The group of characters needs to keep at a problem that has many mysteries and scares them. They have determined that Dracula is the monster, but can they stop him? How do they stop him? Their search challenges their beliefs and ideas. Yet for the sake of love they continue searching. One of the best lines in the book occurs during this time of struggle:
“When he had finished he came back and sat near me, reading, so that I did not feel too lonely whilst I worked.
How good and thoughtful he is. The world seems full of good men, even if there are monsters in it (Chapter 17).”
The book ends with success because they can stop evil from destroying others’ innocence and lives. Now for me to apply that to my life. What ways do I need to prevent and stop the evils I see from destroying the innocence and lives of those around me? What do I do now? Who do I gather around me to help me as I fight the battles I see need fighting?
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