Book Review: "Medusa"

Medusa, by Michael Dibdin, is a murder mystery, a suspense novel, and a look at political struggle and conspiracy.

It begins with the discovery of a soldier's body in an Italian Alps military tunnel. After the body is recovered, it is mysteriously taken from the hospital's morgue. The Army is nervous and obviously hiding something so the Ministry of the Interior jumps at the chance to air some of the Army’s dirty laundry. Detective Zen works through the maze of Italy’s powerful, corrupt and violent political agendas to uncover Operation Medusa and solve the murder mystery.

This book did a good job of keeping my interest in the plot. I kept turning the pages to see what was going to happen next. However, I didn't connect with the characters. Perhaps because of the writing style or Latin sensibility, I also struggled with the use of some of the words.

One final note. The book was borrowed from the Country Inns lending library. What a great idea! Borrow it from one inn and return it to another.

No Limits: Living on the Edge

From the wing walkers to the aerobatic airplane maneuvers to the high-performance jets, one common denominator resonates with exhibition pilots – a passion and desire for excellence. They push the limits of man and machine as far as they can with heart-stopping maneuvers.

As the planes twist, turn and loop with precision, many questions formulate. What is it about taking it to the next level and living on the edge that draws these pilots in? Are there lives different because they have a life-and-death job? How does it affect their faith? Are they so focused on the maneuvers they miss the splendor?

The earth passes by them in slow motion. Roads and rivers cut into the earth like pencil marks on an artist’s sketch pad. Buildings become linear, trees flat splotches of green, and lakes dark flat shapes. It makes one wonder. How big is our God? The human mind can’t begin to comprehend it. Each minuscule dot and linear shape houses individuals illustrating the minuteness of man. Do the pilots feel it? Do they feel the power of God while soaring through the skies? Or, do they focus on the task at hand with their mind focused only performance, avoiding a disaster, landing safely, and other earthly things?

As the plane descends the flat linear objects pop up and take on their three-dimensional shape. The closer to the ground, the bigger the objects appear. Within minutes, the plane lands, the majesty disappears, and man takes center stage. Are the pilots affected by the pull of man verses the freedom of spirit? What draws them toward the heavens? Is it mere adrenaline or is it something much more?

How differently would we live if our job had life-and-death consequences? Would we be closer to God? Would we live every moment? Live on purpose? We may not take to the skies everyday, but we all live with life-and-death consequences. Do we choose life or do we choose death? The Bible says choose life!

Springtime and Wildflowers

Springtime and wildflowers - celebrating birth, renewal, life.

To casual observers, Florida seasons are essentially non-existent or limited to hot and warm, tourist and non-tourist, summer and not summer. To natives, the seasons are subtle, but distinctive.

In springtime, babies abound in open spaces of the interior pine flat lands. Calves and colts cling to their mothers while quail, scrub jays, and mockingbirds guard their nests. In the wetlands, baby alligators and snapping turtles take their first swim. Weeds drink April showers and dance in the breezes to transform into yellow, pink, and lavender kaleidoscopes. "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these." Luke 12:27 (NIV)

This flurry of activity in nature sets the stage for Easter. New life is born and weeds are transformed. " ... I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10 (NIV) Souls are reborn, lives transformed, new creatures in Christ. Easter - celebrating rebirth, renewal, life. He is risen!

Norman Rockwell Exhibit

Norman Rockwell was an amazing artist and a great storyteller. A recent exhibit displayed over 300 of his Saturday Evening Post magazine covers between 1916 and 1963, as well as, several original paintings. In studying the walls of magazine covers, his talent, combined with the discipline to paint month after month year after year, was a bit overwhelming.

Some critics have called his art sentimental and unrealistic. And, perhaps in his attempt to capture what was good about America, he glossed over some of the ‘real’ truths of the times, but his works resonated with people back then and still do today. His universal appeal proves the basic human desire for simpler, happier times, as painted into the small-town personification of Rockwell’s paintings, is still alive. His illustrations of everyday life served not so much as a mirror of 20^th century America, but as a mirror enhanced with hopes and dreams.

When Norman Rockwell parted ways with the Saturday Evening Post, he began illustrating for Look magazine. The Look magazine covers differed from the Saturday Evening Post covers in that they included social issues of the day — civil rights, the Peace Corps, and even space exploration. Thus, as the world changed, the stories changed and so did the paintings. Sadly, though, the innocence of the earlier paintings was missing.

One of Norman Rockwell’s greatest gifts is the poignant history of the American spirit — not just the facts and figures or the brutal truth about its history. When the covers are lined up in chronological order, America's spirit comes alive for current and future generations to enjoy.

If the exhibit makes its way to a museum near you, don’t miss it! You’ll leave with a grateful heart for the nostalgic look back at America and the man who put it on paper.