I was in a used bookstore recently, not really looking for anything particular but simply musing over the collection of spines. Alone and contented to be that way, I slowly walked up and down each aisle, coffee in one hand and a couple of books in the other. I blissfully looked over the colors, the words, the typesetting of each spine. I sipped my coffee and wondered what each author was trying to convey in these choices. How difficult it must be, I thought to myself, to arrive at one short title to sum up an entire book. In that title the author must capture my attention and pique my curiosity. He must speak volumes to me without saying much at all. He must make me want to slide the book off the shelf and crack open this possible treasure trove of information and knowledge. Just as I was about to leave the section on Foreign Politics, a bright blue spine with beautiful lettering caught my attention. “Cherishing Men from Afar.” The book itself is about Chinese foreign relations, but I simply adore the title. Now there’s a title, I thought, from which endless words and volumes could be–and probably already have been–written.
In his commentary on the book of John, Scottish minister Alexander Maclaren, eloquently points out that “the lost are seeking rest for their hearts, a home for their spirits, perfect truth in their understandings, perfect beauty for their affections and perfect goodness for their conscience.” And they do not even know they are seeking these things until they are faced with turmoils and trials which cause them to ask where hope can be found. We know these things ourselves, dear Brothers and Sisters, and in so knowing, we seek these precious truths for the lost. We are called to cherish these people, the lost and enslaved, and pray that their hungry souls find perfection in the knowledge, grace and mercy of one God, one Father, our Christ and Savior. Hence, we cherish these men from afar.
Copyright (c) 2009, Angela Zimerman, New Albany, Indiana
One Bright Hour 
July 24th, 2009 at 12:56 PM
I truly enjoyed this musing, and plan to look for something to read by Alexander Maclaren.
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July 24th, 2009 at 12:59 PM
I enjoyed reading this musing, and plan to look to reading something by Alexander Mclaren…love those Scots.
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July 26th, 2009 at 11:20 PM
Me too, Terie. You can find more on Maclaren at http://tinyurl.com/Maclaren
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July 25th, 2009 at 11:03 AM
I always appreciate your heart and wholeHEARTedly identify with your passion for the lost.
I love ambiguity, so I love the title “Cherishing Men from Afar”. I wonder what you were thinking when you first read it. I wonder what others would think. Is it a dig on men; is it a commentary on women who cannot be intimate; is it written by a woman with a broken heart? It would make a great discussion topic.
Oh, that’s right, that’s what you just did. Nice choice.
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July 26th, 2009 at 11:24 PM
Ah, I wouldn’t touch the other possible topics with a ten-foot pole! This was safe. Glad you liked it.
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July 25th, 2009 at 11:46 AM
Very nice writing Angela. Thought provoking — and I like that title too. Did you ever read about Hudson Taylor going to China?
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July 26th, 2009 at 11:27 PM
Oh yes! In my work I have to know about all the missionary greats and Hudson Taylor (along with William Carey) are the missional stories I enjoy re-telling the most. But even the non-missional would benefit from Taylor’s example to pray unceasingly and with the greatest of faith. He was an incredible man, indeed!
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July 25th, 2009 at 11:47 AM
I look forward to more of your writing.
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