How hungry are
we for words? Hungry enough to steal books, like Liesel did in the film, “The
Book Thief”[1]?
Living in the paralyzing fear of Nazi Germany, she became desperate for life-giving
stories.
Books were rare,
most having been burned through Hitler’s ‘intellectual cleanse’. Liesel is in
awe one day as she drops off clean laundry for Ilsa Hermann, the mayor’s wife, and is invited to read from her extensive library. With reverent whispers, Liesel
chooses her favourite books each week and indulges in a page-turning feast. However,
when the Mayor finds out about her secret reading sessions, she is banned from
the hallowed library.
But Liesel has
tasted the power of words. She has also become close friends with Max, a Jewish
fugitive her family is harbouring in their basement. When he falls seriously
ill, Liesel begins a journey to save him through stories. Though books are
forbidden, Liesel secretly returns to the mayor’s home, and at the cost of her
life, “borrows” a book. She begins reading to Max, breaking the bread of life
one precious crumb at a time, story after story, book after stolen book, until the
fever is broken and he awakens to life and health.
Having been
fortified by her beloved words, Liesel turns her attention to others starving
for hope. She whispers stories to the scared families in the Air-Raid Shelters
where her words tug smiles from their captive spirits.
One day before
Max leaves, he hands Liesel a copy of Mein Kampf, in which he had whitewashed
every page. He says, “Write. In my religion we're taught that every living
thing, every leaf, every bird, is only alive because it contains the secret
word for life. That's the only difference between us and a lump of clay. A
word. Words are life, Liesel.”
Writing in her
re-purposed journal saves Liesel’s life one night as she falls asleep in her
basement with pen in hand while all around the bombs fall on her village.
There is a
secret word for life, like Max said. One word splits the rock of our tombs and
calls us out. This Word is referred to in scripture. “In the beginning was the
Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). In verse fourteen
we learn the identity of this Word: “The Word became flesh and made his
dwelling among us.” Jesus Christ is the Word Who gives abundant, never-ending life.
It was the
spoken words of the Word that created all we see. Jesus spoke the light into
being. And he speaks light into our being too when He calls us from death to
life.
Words are life.
But there is one Word – Jesus – we cannot live without. Only His whisper has
the power to break sin’s fever and wake us back to life.
Writers would be
wise to follow the example of Liesel. In our desire to share life-giving words with
others, we must first find Jesus, the source of all life. We, like Liesel, may
need to risk our lives in our search for the precious Word. When we find Him we
must not let go, no matter the cost. Take Him in, and indulge in the feast of
His love. Finally, being strengthened and built up by grace, we will be able to
write the words that stir others back to life; words that shine light into
darkness, and hope into despair.
[1] From
the film, “The Book Thief”, a 2013 American-German
war drama film based on the book by Marcus Zusak, 2005, TransWorld Publishers.
by Pamela Mytroen
