I didn’t enjoy the library so much in my college days, because being there meant I had a big paper or project deadline looming. Then I grew up, had children and became a home-school mom. For years now we have frequented the library for everything from school research to art projects to pleasure reading.
Several years ago I became distressed about some of the books I was seeing on the displays, especially in the children and youth sections. So much darkness – my initial reaction was gut wrenching sorrow. I left that day wondering how I would ever go back in there. The books I had seen made the library suddenly feel scary instead of inviting and friendly.
The reality is that many of the books in the libraries today are filled with evil; the kind God’s Word tells us to flee from, but guess what – it’s not just in the libraries. Evil is everywhere but so is God! And yes, He is bigger and bolder. 
I got over my initial shock and after a short sabbatical we did go back to the library. We still go a few times each month. Today we stopped in because my daughter had reserved books for her British Literature course. I didn’t need anything – I already had a stack of books at home – but I decided to browse while she picked up her books.
As I walked into an aisle this little book was in the front of a row and was kind of hanging off the shelf – Sit, Walk, Stand; the typography and graphics caught my eye so I pulled it the rest of the way off the shelf and saw the author’s name, Watchman Nee. I recognized it immediately because I’d read The Normal Christian Life last year. I opened it up to the introduction:
“We shall take as a background to our thoughts the epistle of Paul to the Ephesians.”
Wow…I recently finished a slow, intentional read of the book of Ephesians – how uncanny.
I perused the shelves some more. A teal blue spine caught my eye, Everything, love that title – Yes, He is – I thought to myself as I pulled it from the shelf. What a surprise to see Mary DeMuth’s name on the cover. I just love Mary. She has been a great inspiration to me in my writing and in my faith as well. Now this was just getting silly.
I pulled another from the shelf and began to read the back cover. It was written by a young lady who got her journalism degree from Hillsdale College. My daughter – the one who landed us in the library at that moment is applying to colleges for a journalism degree. She has applied to Hillsdale!
God, are You right here? In the library?
I didn’t need to hear Him answer. It was a ridiculous question. Of course – it was a resounding Yes! I didn’t even need to ask, but it was a really cool moment. God is in the library.
Paul said:
Good to remember for a librarian! Along with all the rot, there are treasures waiting to be opened. I am reading “The Breaking of the Outer Man” by Watchman Nee in preparation for my time fasting in the desert at the end of the month.
We are stuck in the world, but not OF it. I am running across Christians who have sounded the retreat to back into their own little separatist communities to one degree or another. We need to draw strength from God and the church each day and plunge into the world to be ministers of reconciliation.
Paul