What Happens on the Island Stays on the Island

 The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly is a relaxing read.  Surprisingly easy because it actually is an historical novel with romance.  I always enjoy reading books with local venues.  Martha's Vineyard is a swim away (for good swimmers, not me) from Seacoast Blvd.  I judge the weather by looking at the island from the end of Seacoast Blvd.  Heat fog, rain, misty, or a clear day.

The story takes place in 1942.  There are soldiers all over the island practicing for "D" day.  Again, I can identify.  Right across from my beach, are remnants of a paved road on Washburn Island, because this island, also, was used for "D" day practice.    This island, I really can swim to, in fact just float across.  Washburn has my family's favorite beach.  It's not crowded.  You don't need a beach sticker.

The characters are the Smith family and their farm.  The women are left to tend to the property.  Briar, the teenager sees U Boats off their beach.  No one else does.  But she's correct.  A man from the U Boat swims ashore and Briar rescues him.  He wants to defect.  Briar takes him home and hides him.  They have seen what happens to German prisoners and they don't want that to happen to him.  

Briar's sister Cadence is a would-be-writer.  She falls for one of the soldiers on the island.  Grandma is ill and is in the hospital.  Bess is pregnant with the girls' brother baby.  Don't forget "Briar the Liar."  This is the family trying to hold onto the farm.

There's a couple of murders around them.  There's also a spy but who?

  Oh, the Book Club--it's a planning session for the girls and a few friends.  They plan to distribute books to the soldiers.  It isn't easy but they make a skinny book that is easy to carry and it's accepted.  They help with the farm, with whatever they can.

This is a time of confusion and sadness.  The story gave me pause for reflection.  I am happy to have been after the war.  Thank you, Daddy.

The Gospel According to our Leaders

I'm reading American Gospel, God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation, by Jon Meacham.  It's very interesting.  I find it particularly enlightening in regards to the fact that it's really Divine Providence who's in charge.  During World War II, there was a special closeness to God.

The ceremony for the signing of the Atlantic Charter is a good example.  A reading from Joshua was given, "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid...for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."  Meacham says that Churchill wept.  Three hymns were sung by a mix of American and British sailors: "Onward Christian Soldiers, Eternal Father, Strong to Save and the beginning of Psalm 90."

O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guide while troubles last,
And our eternal home.

The author, continues to conjecture that Americans were wary of this strongly Anglican service.  What if you're not Christian?  Americans prefer an ecumenical service (ministers of different faiths) but the theme of the ceremony was universally accepted: liberty, justice, and democracy.

Franklin played the part of a national pastor.  I think he looks the part.  Can't you picture him as a rabbi, minister, or priest?  On D-Day, June 6, 1944, the President led the country in prayer.  He asked that our military operation against the Nazis be blessed with success.

What I've just quoted is a good example of the book.  The theme is that religion shapes politics.  And at this particular time before the election, the book is comforting.  It's "good news" that religion shapes politics, yet doesn't control it.  Right from America's founding, our nation has struggled with faith and government.  It proves that God is in charge.