Uncle Tom's Cabin--Only One

To an outsider, the main character in Uncle Tom’s Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe, Tom, had a small circle of influence. He only served three masters throughout his lifetime. Yet he earnestly prayed for and served this small circle, which included the household and other slaves, faithfully. And the influence he had on those close to him was mighty powerful.

His was a voice and an example of hope to the captive slaves. His was a victory in loving his masters--a foolish master he freely forgave, an extravagant master he brought to conversion, and a purely evil master who was tormented by that perfect love. His was a faith that shunned evil and gave no excuses to allow himself to do wickedness. His was a power “so deeply rooted in goodness, as to flourish and grow stronger amid discouragement and decay.” (pg 292) His was a testimony of the Word not unlike a two-edged sword because he spoke the truth. His was a life that he truly knew was not his own because it was bought and paid for by One who could keep it. His was a will wrapped up in the will of his Lord.

At each stage of his life, Tom’s roots deepened and his influence grew. When he was sold from his first master, Mr. Shelby, and being torn apart from his wife and three children, he thought of them and was grateful that he was sold and not them. As he lived with the St. Clare family, the angelic character of young Eva deepened his roots and made him even more Christ-like. Even when his master, Augustine St. Clare, told Tom that he would set him free soon, Tom desired to stay with Augustine for he knew that his master needed him in his conversion to Christ. When he faced the wicked and degraded management of his last master, Mr. Legree, who also wanted Tom to manage the other slaves in like manner, Tom meekly and powerfully vowed to never take part in such wickedness. This purity of motive and person further contrasted the violent hatred of his master. However it awakened life from the poor creatures who, for some time, lived more like a herd of domesticated animals than free-thinking people.

God, the Father, knows each one of us. To an outsider, it’s impossible to understand how a God of billions can know us and influence us individually. But it’s because of His intimate love that He can care for a depraved slave like Tom, or a simple mom like me. It’s because of God’s love for me and each of us that He wants us to brighten the lives of those few we are close to. My circle of influence does not need to encompass the world. But I can make a world of difference to a few. And as I live that way and love others that way, I can tap into that influential power that Tom had learned to tap into. And the only way I can do so is to realize, as Tom did, that my life is not really my own, because it was bought and paid for by One who could keep it. And when I can wrap my will up in the will of my Lord, the Lord will magnify my power and influence.

By Angie Patterson

The Long Winter--Are we in a crisis too?

“Howl! Blast you! Howl! “We’re all here safe! You can’t get at us! You’ve tried all winter but we’ll beat you yet! We’ll be right here when spring comes!” Not long after these despairing words from Laura Ingalls' father, Charles, and his lamenting that he could not even play the violin because of his cold and sore fingers, the family realized that they could still sing. Nothing could keep them from singing, not a freezing Minnesota blizzard or even the worst winter in 20 years. In an instant, the music transformed despair into expressions of faith, resolve, and gratitude. “The storm raged outside, screaming and hammering at walls and window, but they were safely sheltered, and huddled in the warmth of the hay fire they went on singing.”

Experiencing this crisis with the Ingalls family has prompted our class to ask the question, are we in a crisis now? Are we experiencing a long winter of sorts? We may not see or hear our ferocious storms as Laura heard hers. Our weather is calm, peaceful, and serene and most of us detect nothing out of the ordinary. All appears to be well. But, there is a storm out there—one of spiritual darkness and destruction. Just like a whirling, devastating hurricane it has taken families and split them apart. It has taken our culture and twisted it into something unrecognizable. The worst hit victims are the children, including and especially the children who are unwanted or not given an opportunity to experience life at all. The only chance we have as a nation to endure this crisis is to continue to hold firm to the unraveling societal fabric and stand as firmly as did the Ingalls family, and fight like Pa did with hands clenched and call out to it, “Not my family! You can rage and howl all you want. You won’t get to us!”

 Just as the Ingalls family had their Bible and McGuffey Readers to cling to, we have our standard works and our libraries of classics that teach us the enduring themes of faith, courage, truth, virtue, liberty, and charity. Our families are learning what it means to be a family, the worth of soul, and how to endure any storm. We know that we can be like the Ingalls family, the March family from Little Women and Little Men, the Stantons from Laddie, or the Moodys from Little Britches. We are passing on this great American tradition to our children, preserving it for future generations for they will surely have their share of storms to face.

There will be times when we will feel strongly that taking care of our own is not all the Lord asks of us. There are many out there in the storm, hungry for what we have, longing to feel the comfort of love and belonging, and the healing power that repentance brings. We will have to act on these feelings and say, go, be, and do what we feel inspired to do. When we do this, as Almanzo did in our story, we will bring many souls to safety. So many are aching for what we have in abundance. Miracles are waiting.

 “It was so wonderful to be there safe at home, sheltered from the winds and the cold. Laura thought that this must be a little bit like Heaven, where the weary are at rest. She could not imagine that Heaven was better than being where she was, slowly growing warm and comfortable… hearing the storm that could not touch them here.”

 We must share this sweet feeling—this heaven on earth—with those who are lost, cold, or hungry. Do you have the courage to find them and bring them home? May we all continue singing and spreading forth the precious light that is kindled inside our homes.