Two More Cents

A week ago, Carl wrote a post about Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin. He really wanted me to read the novel, and so I am now in the middle of this amazing story! I too add in my two cents that all should read it! I recently came across this quote:

"Of course, in a novel, people's hearts break, and they die, and that is the end of it; and in a story this is very convenient. But in real life we do not die when all that makes life bright dies to us. There is a most busy and important round of eating, drinking, dressing, walking, visiting, buying, selling, talking, reading, and all that makes up what is commonly called living..."

Now this quote doesn't apply to me at this point in my life. However, I enjoy how intriguing this thought is. In the novel we have just learned that a man cannot marry his true love, and is stuck with a most disagreeable woman instead. He does not divorce her, but continues living his life and strives to find joy. How different this is from today! When something is disagreeable to us we rid ourselves it or replace it; we acquire the "next best thing." This portion of the novel is indeed heart breaking--especially after you come to know his horrible wife!--and yet he continues to live his life to the fullest. How can we do the same in our life?