Already the new men are dotted here and there all over the earth. Every now and then one meets them. Their very voices and faces are different from ours; stronger, quieter, happier, more radiant. They begin where most of us leave off. They are, I say, recognizable; but you must know what to look for. They will not be very like the idea of “religious people” which you have formed from your general reading. They do not draw attention to themselves. You tend to think that you are being kind to them when they are really being kind to you. They love you more than other men do, but they need you less...
They will usually seem to have a lot of time: you will wonder where it comes from. When you have recognized one of them, you will recognize the next one much more easily. And I strongly suspect (but how should I know?) that they recognize one another immediately and infallibly, across every barrier or colour, sex, class, age, and even of creeds. In that way, to become holy is rather like joining a secret society. To put it at the very lowest, it must be great fun… [C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, "The New Men"]
Wait. God was sending a baby to rescue the world?"But it's too wonderful!" Mary said and felt her heart beating hard. "How can it be true?""Is anything too wonderful for God?" Gabriel asked.So Mary trusted God more than what her eyes could see. And she believed. "I am God's servant," she said. "Whatever God says, I will do."[The Nativity, from Luke 1-2]This baby would be like that bright star shining in the sky that night. A Light to light up the whole world. Chasing away darkness. Helping people to see.And the darker the night got, the brighter the star would shine...[The Story of the Shepherds, from Luke 2]
After the keen still days of September, the October sun filled the world with mellow warmth. Before Kit’s eyes a miracle took place, for which she was totally unprepared… No one had ever told her about autumn in New England. The excitement of it beat in her blood. Every morning she woke with a new confidence and buoyancy she could not explain. In October, any wonderful unexpected thing might be possible. As the days grew shorter and colder, this new sense of expectancy increased and her heightened awareness seemed to give new significance to every common thing around her.
As we have taken the circle as the symbol of reason and madness, we may very well take the cross as the symbol at once of mystery and of health. Buddhism is centripetal, but Christianity is centrifugal: it breaks out. For the circle is perfect and infinite in its nature; but it is fixed forever in its size; it can never be larger or smaller. But the cross, though it has at its heart a collision and a contradiction, can extend its four arms forever without altering its shape. Because it has a paradox in its center it can grow without changing. The circle returns upon itself and is bound. The cross opens its arms to the four winds; it is a signpost for free travelers. [G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy, Chapter 2]
"Are you not thirsty?" said the Lion.To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life..." [Revelation 21:6]
"I'm dying of thirst," said Jill.
"Then drink," said the Lion...
"Will you promise not to--do anything to me, if I do come?" said Jill.
"I make no promise," said the Lion.
Jill was so thirsty now that, without noticing it, she had come a step nearer.
"Do you eat girls?" she said.
"I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms," said the Lion. It didn't say this as if it were boasting, nor as if it were sorry, nor as if it were angry. It just said it.
"I daren't come and drink," said Jill.
"Then you will die of thirst," said the Lion.
"Oh dear!" said Jill, coming another step nearer. "I suppose I must go and look for another stream then."
"There is no other stream," said the Lion.
It never occurred to Jill to disbelieve the Lion - no one who had seen his stern face could do that - and her mind suddenly made itself up. It was the worst thing she had ever had to do, but she went forward to the stream, knelt down, and began scooping up water in her hand.
It was the coldest, most refreshing water she had ever tasted.
1. The Great Divorce, C.S. Lewis. Of course there will be a C.S. Lewis book on any list of good books I make. Thought-provoking and provides the coolest perspectives. Some friends are reading it over this break, and I can't wait to discuss it with them. 
2. A Midsummer Night's Dream, William Shakespeare. I love Shakespeare, the story line of this, and how quickly you can read it. One disclaimer: Naturally, Shakespeare's sense of humor is inappropriate at times. So just be prepared, especially if you prefer the "No Fear" edition. 
3. The Dante Club, Matthew Pearl. Absolutely brilliant mystery set in 19th century Boston. Also a New York Times bestseller a couple of years ago. Think the Da Vinci Code without all of the controversy. Or, at least, less controversy. If you like it, Pearl has other similar novels that are also nicely done.
4. The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas. This book is just plain good. Pay attention because the plot is extremely intricate; it may be confusing at times, but it's worth it in the end. It may help to draw out a family tree/character chart to keep handy while you're trying to help solve the mystery.
5. Johnny Tremain, Esther Forbes. This will be one of my all-time favorites until the day that I die. This is the source of much of my Revolution-era obsession, which fueled my obsession with the Constitution, which means, in part, I can blame this book for why I'm currently stressed about the LSAT. And, oh yes, it's for 5th graders."It's all right," said Edmund. "Between ourselves, you haven't been as bad as I was on my first trip to Narnia. You were only an ass, but I was a traitor."
"Well, don't tell me about it, then," said Eustace. "But who is Aslan? Do you know him?"
"Well - he knows me..." said Edmund. "He is the great Lion, the son of the Emperor-beyond-the-Sea, who saved me and saved Narnia."
Number one: school supplies. You're laughing, I know. I don't know what it is, I just like shopping for school supplies. I'm very specific about it too. (Ask my mom, who patiently waited in WalMart for far too long while I searched for a red notebook. It had to be red. I was just in the mood for red that day. I have no idea why.) 
I read some every August, just to make me excited to go back. I've read them all far too many times, but a few days ago I picked up seven again. Seriously, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a masterpiece; J.K. Rowling is brilliant. (I could go on about this for days, but I'll spare you, for now at least.) Something about the fact that all of Harry's adventures take place at Hogwarts makes me excited for my adventures that are on the way here at Ole Miss.
