Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: REED / READ (02/23/23)
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TITLE: Oh, Be Careful Little Eyes What You Read | Previous Challenge Entry
By Mariane Holbrook
03/01/23 -
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Members of the Tioga Christian Book Club looked at one another, then laughed heartily. Two of the members were at it again, arguing over the current book that had been assigned for reading. It was amusing to watch these two men feign anger. In reality, they were good friends who attended the same church and who went bowling every Thursday night.
Hank looked pained. Opening the biography, "Donner's Journey" to page 183, he said, "Listen to this, Rick. 'After James Reed killed John Snyder in SELF DEFENSE, he was banished from the wagon train. Forced to leave his wife and four children behind, he rode ahead on horseback. After arriving in California, Reed redeemed himself by collected funds and organized two search parties to look for the stranded members.'"
The group had been reading the gripping account of the Donner Party, a group of American pioneers who migrated from Illinois to California in a wagon train in the mid-1800s. Delayed by a multitude of mishaps, they spent the winter of 1846–1847 snowbound in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Of the 81 people on the wagon train, more than half were younger than 18 years old, and six were infants. Thirty-six people died en route.
Rick appeared to listen, then explained. "It's clear that James Reed was not held in high regard in the group even though in Celtic mythology, a reed represents music, wisdom and scholarship. He was bossy and authoritative. Born in 1800, Reed was an Illinois businessman, soldier, pioneer, and organizing member of the Donner Party emigration to California. He worked closely with George Donner but Reed persuaded part of the group to take a shortcut on the trip, which resulted in hardship, illness, starvation, death, and even cannibalism on the trip.
Raising his eyebrows to show his concern, Rick continued, "According to one rescuer, 21 members had been eaten (some of whom were deliberately killed to provide food for the surviving). There were human skeletons "in every variety of mutilation. A more revolting and appalling spectacle I never witnessed."
Mary Ellen, the oldest member of the Book Club at 79 years of age, interrupted Rick. "Please don't go into the details of cannibalism and other atrocities committed on the trip. I skipped over that chapter because it was so unseemly and crude."
"Mary Ellen," her younger sister, Reba, scoffed, "You're always determining that something is 'unseemly.' You led a group that demanded the removal of books in our high school library that described atrocities committed during the Holocaust. You discounted as unfit the accounts of American Indians who collected the scalps of hundreds of pioneer settlers as well as stories of slavery and abuse before the Civil War. I'm surprised you read the Old Testament with its graphic accounts of the sins committed by Noah, David and Bathsheba and so many more. We can't ignore the parts of history that offend us and try to rewrite history."
Quickly, the group took sides, with Rick declaring, "Reba is right. Look at all the monuments honoring early American heroes that are now being scrapped in a misguided effort to clean up our country's 'sordid' past. The children in public schools today are being unfairly deprived of accurate accounts of history."
Jenny, the book club's leader, smiled and gaveled the group to order. "As Christians, we are taught to be careful what things we're pouring into our minds. With television and libraries offering smut viewing and reading, it becomes increasingly hard to keep our minds a pure place for the Holy Spirit to dwell. What used to be scorned as 'unfit or salacious' reading for Christians is now acceptable, enjoyed and even promoted by others."
Jenny looked at her wristwatch and ended with this: "With the Holy Spirit as our guide, we can trust Him to reveal which movies or reading material will give us a better understanding of history as opposed to things which leave us sinning in our hearts and minds. Pastor and theologian John Piper, when asked if Christians should continue watching or reading questionable material, replied, 'In Christ, there is no confusion, contradiction, or compromise. If in doubt, don't.'"
Dismissed, the group laughed when Jenny held aloft the next assigned book, "Alive" by Piers Paul Read (survival by cannibalism in the Andes).
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“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8 KJV
Based on a true story.
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