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I'd never heard of Rebecca K. Reynolds until a few weeks ago when she posted something on Facebook about Jan Karon, author of the famous Mitford books, and it came up in my news feed because Karon reacted on her post. I follow Karon because I've read most of the series.
In her post, Reynolds shared how moved she was by an interview Karon gave at the Christy Awards. Reynolds had always felt a little guilty about enjoying the Mitford books so much because they are sweet and light. "Karon inflicts no despair, and that has seemed too indulgent somehow. I have felt more honest and more brave when I’ve been at least occasionally tormented by an author." Reynolds went on to say that Karon "made no apologies for doing no harm" and that this approach somehow gave her (Reynolds) permission to be tended to now and then by a book. "It’s okay to need a mother in a book instead of always a professor, a lover, or a brother in arms. I didn’t know I needed to know this."
You know what? Reading Reynolds' post moved me. Sometimes I feel a little guilty that the main goal of so much of my work—my writing and my art—is to simply lift spirits (my tagline is "inspiring seriously joyful living") and not necessarily to make people think or wrestle with ideas or mobilize them into action. Sure, I occasionally offer a challenge in my writing, but I think (hope, really) I come across more as a sister or friend than a teacher or visionary or hero. And Jan Karon (through Rebecca Reynolds) helped me see that that's a-okay.
I share this with you to encourage you to be a-okay with it if what you offer to the world is simply sweetness, tenderness, or hope. There are plenty of people eager to fill roles that may get more attention, but perhaps not as many who can go through life not inflicting harm. I'd like to be in the second group. I'm pretty sure every time I've hurt someone it's because I wanted to do more, say more, or get more than I should. What if I was unapologetically content to simply tend the hearts I come into contact with?
Have a wonderful Monday!
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