name story
Sep. 7th, 2007 04:11 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
meganursulaWhen i was coming up on my teenage years, and trying to sort out my philosophies on life, there were a few authors who really became a part of my beliefs. One of those authors was Madeleine L'Engle.
When i was in sixth grade my teacher pointed me towards A Wrinkle In Time. I stole that book. I mean, literally, i never could bear to bring it back to her library, so i still have that copy. And at least one more.
Its not just that L'Engle found a way to express a spirituality that i could understand. Although she did that too. The concept of Agape resonates so strongly through her books, and it is something that i, a non-christian, to be sure, have embraced. But there was more.
L'Engle's heroine was Meg - a gangly teenager, too clever at math for her own good. Beautiful, but not in a traditional sense, and kind, and thoughtful. Meg's struggles resonated with me, and her potential gave me hope. Here was a story set in my world.
So, i had a philosophical read, a romantic read, and, frankly, just a pretty good series to put under my belt. I continued from the time quartet to pretty much every L'Engle novel i could find.
As a teenager, when i had cause to understand death, and life, and love in an adult way, i stumbled across the Crosswicks journals. Crosswicks is the farm house just a few miles from my own home in Connecticut, and the Crosswicks journals were L'Engle writing about life as nonfiction. The Summer of the Great Grandmother is still the best book i've read to come to terms with death.
When the time came for Josh and i to think about Girl Names i had a number of them that i liked as names. Madeleine was near the top for me, because it is classic, it is beautiful, it rolls off your tongue like music. It is a beautiful name for a beautiful little girl. It is also in honor of someone that i admire, and who means something to me. Josh and i agreed it was a fine name for a little girl, and that honoring an important author is a fine way to choose a name.
So, last week, our own little girl was named Madeleine. In honor of Madeleine L'Engle. She comes into this world blessed with our hopes and dreams. She will do well to bring as much light into the world as Madeleine L'Engle did. I hope for my daughter, that she finds as much joy and beauty and hope in the world as Madeleine L'Engle seemed to.
When i was in sixth grade my teacher pointed me towards A Wrinkle In Time. I stole that book. I mean, literally, i never could bear to bring it back to her library, so i still have that copy. And at least one more.
Its not just that L'Engle found a way to express a spirituality that i could understand. Although she did that too. The concept of Agape resonates so strongly through her books, and it is something that i, a non-christian, to be sure, have embraced. But there was more.
L'Engle's heroine was Meg - a gangly teenager, too clever at math for her own good. Beautiful, but not in a traditional sense, and kind, and thoughtful. Meg's struggles resonated with me, and her potential gave me hope. Here was a story set in my world.
So, i had a philosophical read, a romantic read, and, frankly, just a pretty good series to put under my belt. I continued from the time quartet to pretty much every L'Engle novel i could find.
As a teenager, when i had cause to understand death, and life, and love in an adult way, i stumbled across the Crosswicks journals. Crosswicks is the farm house just a few miles from my own home in Connecticut, and the Crosswicks journals were L'Engle writing about life as nonfiction. The Summer of the Great Grandmother is still the best book i've read to come to terms with death.
When the time came for Josh and i to think about Girl Names i had a number of them that i liked as names. Madeleine was near the top for me, because it is classic, it is beautiful, it rolls off your tongue like music. It is a beautiful name for a beautiful little girl. It is also in honor of someone that i admire, and who means something to me. Josh and i agreed it was a fine name for a little girl, and that honoring an important author is a fine way to choose a name.
So, last week, our own little girl was named Madeleine. In honor of Madeleine L'Engle. She comes into this world blessed with our hopes and dreams. She will do well to bring as much light into the world as Madeleine L'Engle did. I hope for my daughter, that she finds as much joy and beauty and hope in the world as Madeleine L'Engle seemed to.
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Date: 2007-09-08 04:16 am (UTC)There is more to say, but I am without words. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and your little girl.
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Date: 2007-09-08 09:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-08 03:20 pm (UTC)The Irrational Season has a lot to do with why I had E. :)
Thank you so much.
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Date: 2007-09-10 02:46 am (UTC)did you know she died on friday?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/blog/post/PLNK32OO57AHN0M9F
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Date: 2007-09-10 06:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-10 04:24 pm (UTC)Now I must go read her later work, and her autobiographical things. Your Madeleine will no doubt be a fitting tribute, and one who puts her own unique stamp on the name. ;)