Last night, I finished reading the last published volume of a truly wonderful fantasy series by Robert Jordan entitled "The Wheel of Time". A friend of mine and I started this journey 18 months ago, in Sept 2007. This series is one of my daughter's favorites (she has read it many times) and I decided that I wanted to share the experience that she loved so much. In 7,564 pages, 3,430,682 words (who's counting? 
), Robert Jordan transported me into another world, a world so real, and with so much depth, that I feel that I have been there. I know the characters. I love and care deeply for some of them. I have seen the geography. I have experienced the magic. I have learned of cultures and peoples and historical events which shaped the world of "The Wheel of Time". In short, I have taken an 18 month trip that I'll never forget, a trip that will always be a part of me, for the rest of my life. And what a fantastic journey it was!I'm so grateful to my daughter for giving me the first two volumes, and then for encouraging me along the way. We've had such great times talking about the story, sharing our insights and feelings about the events, the people, the cultures, the history. It has been a fun, fantastic, enriching experience. In addition, I'm grateful to my friend who embarked on this journey with me. He was hooked not very far into the first volume ("The Eye of the World", pictured above). I have enjoyed all the time he and I have spent talking, e-mailing, and IMing about the story. Taking a trip is fun, but it's so much more fun to travel with a companion. I'm thankful to my friend for sticking with me for this journey so far...
I say "so far" because the journey is not complete. Sadly, Robert Jordan died last year, before completing the twelfth and final volume entitled "A Memory of Light". He suffered an untimely death on September 16, 2007 from cardiac amyloidosis. His passing was a great loss to the world, especially to those of us who love his writing. Brandon Sanderson has taken on the task of completing this final volume from the partially completed manuscript and the detailed notes and recordings that Jordan left behind. I am eagerly looking forward to completing this fantastic journey, that has become a part of my life. To be continued...
My other milestone was this morning. 18 months ago, newhope church began a visionary project to build a new home base for ministry in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina. This morning was our first Worship in our new building. I do not have the words to describe how wonderful this morning was. How Great is our God! The weather was cold and raining, as it has been for the past 2 days, weather in which no one wants to be. Yet the rain was from Above, a rain of Blessings. Both services were packed, the 2nd service being standing room only. The Worship and the Teaching were wonderful. After 18 months of hard work, planning, prayer, and following God's leadership, as of this morning, newhope church has a base from which to reach out in love, grace, and healing to the people of the Research Triangle and beyond. How Great is our God!
(see The Dream of newhope church)
And once again, this morning is not the completion, but is rather a step, a milestone along the way, as God works through His body at newhope. I am excited and anxious to see what lays ahead for us, and to be a part of His Kingdom, on earth as it is in heaven.To be continued...
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Now that you've finished The Wheel of Time, and once you finish "The Lord of Rings," I recommend Mary Ellen Stewart's Merlin trilogy.
ReplyDeleteIt's a treatment of the King Arthur cycle, from the perspective of Merlin. It includes "The Crystal Caves," "The Hollow Hills" and a third book which name I can't remember. There's a related fourth book, "That Wicked Day," which gives a surprisingly moving and sympathetic portrayal of Mordred.