Originality

G.K. Chesterton (1874 – 1936) was a prolific writer, 80 books, several hundred poems, some 200 short stories, 4000 essays, and several plays. His most famous book probably was Orthodoxy, which had such an impact on C.S. Lewis that he called Chesterton his spiritual father, as well as Francis Shaffer and Gandhi. Chesterton was a Christian apologist, but not the type that was dry or without humor. Among his many famous quotes, "If there were no God, there would be no atheists." And, "Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions." On journalism he observed, "Journalism largely consists in saying ‘Lord Jones is dead’ to people who never knew Lord Jones was alive."

Apart from his writings, what strikes me about Chesterton was his style, or perhaps the lack of it in today’s world. A big man, he was 6 foot 4 inches tall and over 300 pounds; usually wearing a cape and a crumpled hat, with a swordstick in hand and a cigar hanging out of his mouth. Notorious forgetful it’s reported that on several occasions he sent a telegram to his wife Frances from some distant (and incorrect) location, writing such things as "Am at Market Harborough. Where ought I to be?" to which she would reply, "Home.”

So why include this bit of trivia in a blog? A reminder to me, and perhaps to others, that throughout history men like Chesterton lived, thought and put pen to paper those things that seemed relevant at the time. What’s interesting to me is that the thoughts of one who lived 100 years ago remain relevant today. Much of the minutia of my day, cutting the lawn, teaching a class, will pass away and be lost in the wind. The lawn needs to be cut, the class may indeed help the student to be a better person, professionally or spiritually, but it is to those who think about life and who will take the time to write about the insights that God gives each one of us that may indeed have an impact that will last longer than our existence on earth. G.K. was original, as God made each of us. His life is a reminder of the value of being authentic and not pursuing the fashion of a copy.