In The Book

In the Book

A friend phoned to tell me how she happened to connect with someone over a book of mine. This friend—a hairstylist—had a new client in her chair. They began to talk and discovered a strong thread ran between them: one had a sister-in-law with leukemia; the other had lost a daughter to it. They shared bits and pieces of their common experience; then—all cut and styled—the new client turned and saw a copy of my book in the corner of the studio. “We’re in that book!” she exclaimed. “So am I!” the other reported. Both were friends of mine but had never met one another.

My friend Amanda is in the book and will quickly point you to the page. Karelyn squealed when she read about herself, and Denni’s face went soft. Another friend reports that her young daughter proudly announces her presence in print, and (depending on the audience) both of my nieces own up easily too.

Leighton’s there, and so is “Sam” (not his real name). So are Diane and Lynn and Charlie and Victor and one unnamed old boyfriend. Why? Because their stories are interwoven with mine in ways that make it impossible to tell my own story without them. Before they were in the book, they were solidly in my life.

Years ago, my name was written in a book too. It’s called the Lamb’s Book of Life, and it’s a part of my permanent record for now and eternity. I’m in there. If you know Jesus, you are there too. Along with us are Moses and Enoch and Esther and Nicodemus. Matthew and Boaz and Nathan and Joshua and Job. Elizabeth and a Samaritan woman whose name I don’t yet know but will. Peter, Paul, Timothy, and Titus are there. An Ethiopian. A prodigal.

Our books won’t last. They are written in disappearing ink. Our names in them may connect us now—but it’s the presence of our names in his book that connects us to one another forever. One day, we may run our fingers over the very page that bears our name. See who’s there with us. Seek them out. Until then, may we savor the truth that we are in the book.

Don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.

Luke 10:20