Out of the Dark

Beth and I went to the western North Carolina mountains for a few days last week. We had a beautiful house placed beside a mountain stream. (The stream picture was taken with my cellphone camera.)

24 hours a day we could hear the soothing rustling waters of the stream pouring over the rocks. The house featured a spacious deck that hung over the water and we spent most of our three mornings there reading and drinking coffee in our temporary paradise. In addition to relaxing at the house, we ventured into Cashiers and Highlands, NC. We climbed Whiteside Mountain (4930 feet above sea level) and we walked the first leg of the Chattooga River Trail.

During our stay, we were in the dark. "Dark" meaning no cellphone coverage or internet access. There was Direct TV available but the only thing on at the time was Michael Jackson coverage. (More on that later.) It's liberating, yet a little nerve-wracking at the same time, to be without the instant access that we've grown accustomed to. A part of me couldn't relax for awhile because I couldn't call or text anyone unless we were in town. There was a phone at the mountain house and I had given the number to my kids and a couple of guys at the office in case of emergency. But there still is this weird, but good, feeling when you are in the dark. It's funny how 21st century technology affects us, isn't it?

The mountain getaway allowed me to read a book that I was anxious to read. Somewhere along the way I read an interview with a writer that I admire who said that they read everything that David Sedaris wrote. I took that as my cue to pick up a Sedaris book to see for myself why he is a best-selling author. I read it in two days. He is a great storyteller and I really like his writing style. I was in tears laughing at parts of his book. I could hardly tell Beth what I was laughing at because I was out of control.

But I need to warn you. Because many of you that read this blog are Christians and attenders at my church, you need to know that this is far from a Christian book. There are some obscenities and awkward topics. (David Sedaris is a homosexual and he talks about his relationship with his boyfriend, et. al. - 'nuff said.) I don't have a link to his book here like I usually do when I post a book review because I don't want it to be said that "a preacher at TrueNorth Church recommended it." You have to use your own discretion when you pick up a book.

I read it and enjoyed it because I really liked his style. I certainly don't approve of all his lifestyle choices. I knew nothing about Sedaris when I picked up the book - only that a fellow writer liked his material.

With that said, it occurred to me that reading these kind of people is a way for me to see the light. What I mean is that I as a Christian typically read Christian literature. Most of my reading is about the Church, Christian leadership, Biblical studies, and sometimes Christian fiction. I try to be careful not to place myself in a holy box and read only Christian stuff. I read outside of my realm sometimes - even Rolling Stone magazine lately. I think it's important to know what others in our culture are thinking. It's a reminder to me of how many people in the world live in the dark without the light of Christ.

As I read David Sedaris' thoughts, I found myself thinking, "I'd love to have a conversation with this guy. I wonder what he thinks about..." Because his background is almost total opposite of mine, it's interesting to me to read how others think and how they got to their conclusions.

One final thought: Is it just me or is the Michael Jackson stuff too much? Was he a great talent? No doubt. But the overdone TV coverage is out of control. I saw last night that Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton are now involved. Where is that going? I've seen clips of Michael moonwalking more in the past few days than I ever saw him do it in his fifty years. The carniverous media is feasting on this poor guy now. It's getting weird.