Not Really a Book Review - THE HELP

I've been telling my 12 year old daughter, who devours books in the summer like a skinny bear coming out of hibernation eats blueberries and fish, "You have to take time to reflect on a story now and then, when it's really good. Ask yourself: How has this book or character, affected, changed or challenged the way I think or feel? What new insights have I learned about myself, other people or the world? How am I different from taking in this story? Is there some conviction, inspiration or revelation I need to act on - for my own maturation and character developement?"

So, recently, I've reflected on a book I just completed, The Help, by Kathryn Stockett. Though her story captivated and entertained me with well developed characters and wonderful use of forshadowing and creative rotation of first person accounts, I am most interested in how the themes and characters affected me, and pleased that the book ended perfectly. (This isn't to say I wasn't hungry for many more pages after I finished the last - Iwas.)

Katheryn Stockett brings each of her three protagonists, in the end, to the freeing point of breaking out of evil, societal molds, patterns and expectations, to begin to pursue who God really made each of them to be. At three different stages of life: Skeeter, young and single with her whole life ahead of her; Aibileen, mature in age and experience but with enough kick left in her to make a difference in the lives of others; and Minny, in the prime of her childbearing years, all realize that the "lines," within which they've been brought up to color, only exist in other's warped minds.

How did the story affect me? I related to it. I felt Skeeter's rejection and awkwardness of not quite fitting in anywhere. This comes, primarily, from inhabiting this earth as an "alien" - a citizen of heaven, but not really feeling immersed in that that angelic world anymore than this dusty one. I especially related to Skeeter's intense lonliness that came from having to keep secrets from the people closest to her, her truest self and her deepest thoughts and convictions remaining unknown. Thank God she had Aibileen. She didn't even really have God. I have two dearest friends, God and Kevin. God understands me to the depths and knows everything, and Kevin knows most and tries to understand me. Both BEING who I really AM and being KNOWN - are life giving. I stongly advocate for a deep friendship with God -through Jesus, and at least one earthly friendship which delves to depths of authenticity.

The social restraints of appropriateness remian upon me, as a pastor's wife, to a much lesser degreee that those evil "rules" of The Help; still, I don't feel totally known, nor understood - except by my loving creator and friend - Jesus. This is my great sorrow and my precious gift. It is also, I would guess, not uncommon.

How did THE HELP inspire and challenge me?
Not unlike the three hopeful characters who fearlessly struggle to crawl out from under the enemy, into truth and light - to pursue their life's purpose, I feel like I, also, need to continue to uncover "lines"/lies in my own mind, and come out from underneath them. I use the word "enemy" above to refer to physical, spiritual, societal and familial detriments - all enemies of gaining freedom and fulfilling purpose. I'm really NOT talking about human beings, in and of themselves....Eph.6:12.

Statements don't often change people's lives; questions do! I takes someone who is willing to ask this questions that Skeeter asked:

Do you ever want to change things?