I did not read the book. My wife though was captivated by it although she thought it a bit long. I scoured the Internet for opinions....and there was somewhat of a love/hate relationship.....although the book was and is an international bestseller. Mona Eyes by Thomas Schlesser was awarded a number of Book of the Year accolades....so I guess the love won out over the hate.
Here is a summary. An eleven year old girl temporarily....for 63 minutes....goes blind. There is no firm diagnosis....and she suffers anxiety over the hour of darkness. Now she has a grandfather who is a little bit different....kind of like our grandson....and he offers to help by taking the young girl once a week for therapy....only unbeknownst to the parents....it is his own type of therapy....as he is an art lover....and wants to share that love of art with the young girl....to help her anxiety go away. (this takes place in Paris) So they go to art museums on that one day a week for a whole year....as the grandfather analyses one piece of great art a day to her.
I did read through the prologue....and my first thoughts were of course theological....for we Christians supposedly today have sight....but we do not see....so my mind wandered to something happening in the world.....catastrophic....which by the way is coming....and all of the Christians then suddenly turn to God's Word....and then to the world....and begin to see what they should be seeing right now!
So you see how I might qualify as a different type of grandfather in such as a situation as the book presents? My therapy though would be a little bit different....for instead of great works of art.....I might.....(actually believe it or not....I do this to a certain extent today)....I might have the grandchild sit down and watch one great....specially chosen for the message....movie a week.
Sometime last year.....maybe it was in summer....as we were watching our eight year old grandson....I wanted him to sit down and watch Chariots Of Fire with me. Being a very active child....he wasn't thrilled at my offer.....but we did watch it....and he absolutely loved it!
I can't remember if I provided any narration or not....but if I did I would point out that God can give a young man....(or a young woman).....great gifts of athleticism....(which he seems to have)....but they must be used to bring Him glory....and that is exactly what Eric Liddell had done in the 1924 Paris Olympics! I might have pointed out to him that we have all week to play games of any kind....but Sunday is the Lord's Day....and not a day for sports.
I might have talked about how an athlete must train very hard....and the goal of winning a championship might be a good thing.....but it must never take precedence over winning the crown that Jesus will give us! I might explain to him how love for one's country....in our case America....is good and honorable....but also must never impinge....(I might use a different word)....impinge upon our love and duty to our great King....and His kingdom of which we also belong!
Friends....brothers and sisters in Christ....we are not using our spiritual eyes today....or hearing the voice of the Good Shepherd! May....if it be God's will....at some point....use the senses that He has given us.....for our eternal benefit....and His even temporal....and eternal glory!
I'm adding here a movie....a short....and wonderful....seventy minute docudrama....on Charles Spurgeon. It was also last summer sometime....and I asked our grandson if he wanted to sit down and watch this particular movie with me. He demurred....for it was summer....and there was some ball somewhere waiting to be picked up and kicked or thrown or tossed....but I sat on the couch and started watching it by myself....(for at least the tenth time!)....and he would slowly walk behind me. I acted as if I didn't notice....and he walked around to the front of the couch and sat down....and soon he was hooked....and when his parents came home he told them how much he loved the movie! Praise God!
