Uncle Tom's Cabin

I just finished reading "Uncle Tom's Cabin".  I know some of you may be thinking, "Did you just enter a 10th grade English class?".  But I never had to read it in school and I was interested, since it was obviously a classic, well-read novel.  In fact, I looked up information about the book and author and found out that it was the second best-selling book of the entire 19th century, second only to the Bible.  That is pretty impressive.  Since most classic novels are free for the Kindle, I decided to take the opportunity to read it.
It is a difficult book to read, both in language and content, but well worth the read.  I know there have been many arguments about whether this book was wholly positive for the African-American population.  But I felt that Harriet Stowe's representation of all facets of slavery, by having several characters who were in varying opinions, social stations, and levels of civility or depravity, was very just and effective in showing the complexity of slavery.  But I think the lessons learned through this book could be applied to many social injustices that have occurred ever since this novel was written - and really every year before.  All the problems in the world today and since the beginning of time boil down to selfishness and pride and fear.  It may wear different faces at different times, but it is always there.

Reading books like this makes me want to strive to be a better person.  I want to practice what I preach and be in my heart what I say I believe with my mouth.  I want to know that my faith in God is not dependent on my comfortable position in life and that I have the courage to stand up for those who are suffering injustice.


James 4:1-10

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud

but gives grace to the humble.”

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.