We've begun a summer book club at church with the intention of reading all six novels in the
Starbridge series by
Susan Howatch. The first book in the series is entitled "Glittering Images," and we met yesterday to begin discussing it. The story is set in 1930's England and revolves around the Anglican Church and its very human and imperfect clergy. While the story and its drama are captivating, the underlying messages are what intrigue our group. Glittering images, those false images that are presented to the world to gain approval, to protect the self or to gather power and control, are the real drama not only in the lives of the book's characters, but in our lives as well. I couldn't help think of this as I watched the Dr. Phil show Friday afternoon (yes, I confess, I've become a Dr. Phil fan. I watch Oprah as well...just shoot me!) Dr. Phil's guests were people who had made a lot of money, lived a very extravagant lifestyle and lost everything because of this indulgent life. One couple lost their home and were now living in a travel trailer in her parent's backyard. When they moved onto the property, the husband bought a $1000.00 gas grill and now insists he needs a $2000.00 watch....he really doesn't get it! What they said, tho, in answer to Dr. Phil's questions was that they spent money on 'toys' and parties and vacations with friends because it made them feel good to impress people! This seems like a 'glittering image' to me...a false self created by the love of money and the influence it has over others. Dr. Phil was just incredulous...'you'd rather have a watch to impress people than be able to provide for your children? I just don't get that.' And Ecclesiates 5:10-14 has this to add:
"The lover of money will not be satisfied with money; nor the lover of wealth with gain. This also is vanity...Sweet is the sleep of laborers, whether they eat little or much; but the surfeit of the rich will not let them sleep. There is a grievous ill that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owners to their hurt, and those riches were lost in a bad venture; though they are parents of children, they have nothing in their hands" How glittering images, false selves wreak havoc in our lives and keep us separated from God! Do you have a 'glittering image' that is hiding your true self?
