Beautiful inscription
I bought a book (Reason for Being: A Meditation on Ecclesiastes) by Jacques Ellul for some "light reading" (joke). To save a bit of money, I bought it used, rated to be in good condition. When the book came today it was indeed in very good condition - no highlighting (I detest other people's highlighting and underlining), the cover is in great shape, and so on. However, inside the front cover is an inscription. It is so well-written I don't mind having it there. In fact, while I love its message it makes me a little sad that the person to whom it was inscribed didn't keep the book. You'll see why (emphasis in the original, and I elided their names for privacy):
3/22/03
J---,
Congrats on obtaining your architectural license. It is a worthy reward. Wish you continued success as an architect and a designer. Always raise the bar on yourself and challenge yourself with change and chance.
This book is very important to me, and so is the author, Jacques Ellul. He was the world's watchman that was the most authentic voice in the wilderness in the 20th century.
His books are difficult but very rewarding to the Christian who will battle and struggle with Ellul's thoughts. Ellul is my hero, he is Christocentric in his thought and always provides fresh clear insight to who our God is and where he wants us to go. Always exciting & new.
I encourage you to struggle and read to the end.
- L----Makes you want to read it, eh? My hope is that before "J" sold or otherwise was rid of the book that at least he read it. Although if someone ever gave me a book with such a thoughtful and beautiful inscription as "L" wrote, I would never part with it.
I like that last sentence. It could almost be a motto for life.
"I encourage you to struggle and read to the end."
Amen.
2 comments:
one of the reasons i love used books. i don't even mind the markings in them. but i love the feel that the book itself has a history. even a less marvelous inscription than that can be moving....'for margaret with love from mother' instantly makes me feel curious about margaret and her mom and if margaret read the book and liked it, and how long ago this all was....when it's a book i really like i feel that 3-tiered connection---to the author, the giver, the receiver......
i hope the young architect didn't die and that's why the book was for sale. unless it's very very old and he died in his 90s after a good life in his field....
Karen,
The book is copyrighted 1990, but looks like it might have been bought new in 2003 when the inscription was written. Like you, I hope the recipient didn't die. But I also hope he didn't just try to read it, say "Eh," and sell it. Ah, well - a mystery we will never know. Like any good short story, the inscription leaves us wondering and wanting more. :)
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