The following letter from the author, discussion guide, author biography and suggested readings are intended to enhance your group's (or individual) reading and discussion of The Strand.
I came to know Christ at an early age, and have always been fascinated by the way Jesus used parables. Of all the communication techniques He might have employed to proclaim the truths of the Kingdom of God to the masses, He chose to tell stories. As a young person, I was also compelled by C.S. Lewis. Here is a man who argued the truths of Christianity so lucidly, so cogently, in his essays and non-fiction, but also told unforgettable stories that have drawn countless people toward Christ.
There's a great need today for Christians to storytell the truth in the same way. Many in our culture have lost the ears to hear. But I believe we can lure them toward the great Truth of Christ as we elicit, through stories, the fact that God is sovereign and that when you least expect it, any ordinary bush can become a burning bush -- that God can invade this poor earth and infuse it with His rich goodness. "The Strand" is a story about a tidy, somewhat frozen woman who finds God through the most unlikely circumstances. And as a result, her life takes rich, liberating, but messy turns.
I hope that in reading this book, the inexorable, mysterious power of our surprising God will again be refreshed for you.
Sincerely Yours,
Ellen VaughnDear Friends,
2. In what ways is Anne Lorelli like the Vermeer painting of the woman with the pearl necklace? What are some of the ways people look in mirrors instead of at the real source of Light?
3. Anne takes an unprecedented step when she decides to tutor in the inner city. Have you ever deliberately gone outside your comfort zone? What happened? Do you think God often calls us to things we would ordinarily not do?
4. What does Anne learn in the inner city? In America in the 90's, race relations are in some ways more fractured than ever. How can Christians demonstrate the unity of the Body of Christ even as we celebrate its cultural and ethnic diversity?
5. In the beginning of the book, Anne is not yet a Christian. How does God draw Anne toward Himself? How does Anne change during the course of the story?
6. One of "The Strand's" pivotal moments comes when Anne, overwhelmed by her husband's betrayal, reads the Scripture on the wall of the Holocaust Museum: Deuteronomy 30:19.
7. The Jewish doctor in Auschwitz who practiced clandestine abortions to save the life of the mother was based on a real historical figure. Discuss the excruciating choices the Nazis foisted on their captives. How is this issue of choice sketched out through the action of "The Strand"? How do Anne, Danuta, and Virginia Madison deal with the loss of their babies? What do Danuta and Virginia represent to Anne?
8. Danuta forces Anne to confront the issue of forgiveness with the example of Corrie ten Boom forgiving a Nazi guard. Does God always call us to forgive? How can we really do that?
9. Is it mandatory to have suffered in order to effectively minister to someone who is suffering?
10. What characters did you identify with most in "The Strand"? Do you know an Anne? Molly? Paul? Tom? Danuta?
11. What made you laugh in "The Strand"?
12. If you were writing a sequel to "The Strand," what would you have happen?
13. A number of readers of "The Strand" have said that the book made them think about inner-city ministry, or even about adopting needy children. Are there any practical, life-affirming choices that God might be calling you to make today?
The Body
Mere Christianity
Copyright ©1997, ProMotion, inc.
For discussion:
1. One of the central, recurring images in "The Strand" is a pearl necklace. What is the significance of this necklace? What does it represent? Describe a piece of jewelry that has a special meaning to you.
I call heaven and earth to witness this day: I have put before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life--that you and your offspring shall live.
How does Anne "choose life" during the rest of the story? How can Christians today be pro-life in issues across the board, not just in the battle against abortion? Are you facing a dilemma right now in which you can, in effect, choose life?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ellen Vaughn, now writing her own provocative fiction, has worked with Charles Colson for more than sixteen years. A skilled storyteller, she has collaborated with Colson on many of his books, including the fiction best seller "Gideon's Torch" and the modern-day classic "The Body." A native of Washington, D.C., Vaughn holds a Master of Arts degree in English literature from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Richmond. She and her husband, Lee, live in Virginia with their three perpetually peripatetic young children: Emily and twins Haley and Walker.
SUGGESTED READING LIST
Gideon's Torch
by Chuck Colson and Ellen Vaughn
Word Publishing, ISBN 0-8499-3977-1
by Chuck Colson and Ellen Vaughn
Word Publishing, ISBN 0-8499-3579-2
The Screwtape Letters
Surprised by Joy
The Great Divorce
Out of the Silent Planet
That Hideous Strength
all by C. S. Lewis
This Month's Reading Club selection . . .
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