Hello Story of my Life Readers! I'm honored to be hanging out at Jenni's place on this fine Sunday. You all know how fabulous she is, so I won't go on and on about that mushy stuff... Suffice it to say: this girl is truly my female soul mate. Love her to pieces. ~ Today I'm loafing about on her virtual couch, sipping coffee, and discussing perhaps our favorite mutual obsession: Harry Potter. Join us?
Love is such an underlying current in the Harry Potter series. You see it woven through every chapter: from the fidelious charm that Harry's mother's love produces as she is killed- protecting him until he is of age, to the fatherly love that Dumbledore shows toward Harry as he guides, teaches, and protects him through his school years, and ultimately the inextinguishable love that shines forth from the unlikely heart of Severus Snape.
When we first meet Harry, at age 11, he hasn't yet tasted love. He is barely provided for, and even that- out of duty. But he is soon surrounded by people who will come to pour healing balm over his lonely heart, who will take him under their wing, encourage him, push him to grow, celebrate his triumphs, protect him, hold him up when he can't stand any longer... Some will even give their lives for him.
Love helps us to become the very best version of ourselves. It believes in our potential. Always extends grace. Love is the one thing that Voldemort would never possess - that Harry did. It was his love that allowed Harry to defeat He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named in the end. What a powerful message:
Loving other people is far more motivation to live an intentional life than any of our own selfish ambitions.
Oh for the love of a friend...who can be made the sacred trustee of my heart... Some find it. Some don't. This year, I was blessed with that ever-sacred gift. What I didn't realize though, was how much richer my life would become with the addition of the deep, loyal love of a best friend. It has changed me. Brought me confidence, boldness, contentment, and freedom.
Harry found that in Ron and Hermione. - Sirius and Dumbledore both recognized their invaluable presence in Harry's life, and often reminded him to consciously keep his friends close to his side. They were an impenetrable force...if they were together.
And then there is the story of unrequited love found in Severus Snape. Nothing is as tragic as love that is not returned. And so I shan't write about it. Lest I burst into tears. But that storyline brilliantly shows the powerful nature of love...that it can direct the entire course of our lives.~ What beautiful imagery and truth.
Do you have a favorite theme in the HP books?
Fun chatting with you guys today! Thanks Jenni, for having me over to visit!
***Jenni here again... thought I'd throw in a picture of Kristin while we were at HP World in FL last month... sipping pumpkin juice, of course. :) Thanks again for the guest appearance, girl!!
***Kristin back: Ummm...thanks Jen. I look like a...horse?? ;-)
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ReplyDeleteI think another of the important themes is that things are not always as they seem. Harry could really get blinders on when he was so sure that what appeared to be going on couldn't be anything else then what he say and percieved the situation to be. His big growing moments in the books happen when he realizes what he thought he knew to be true was actually not or was not all he exactly thought it to be. The lessons of love, though, are really the ones that hit me the hardest. The two you mentioned (at the end of OOTP and Snape's story) were the most poignant for me. Everytime I read the chapter The Prince's Tale or watch is play out in DH part 2, I am a MESS. Anyways, I could go on talking about Harry Potter for a while longer so i'll just stop here :)
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It's the Journey
It's amazing how the HP books can speak to readers on so many levels throughout the years. As I've grown up and lived more experiences and reread the books over and over, I've discovered more in the writing - especially about love. Thanks for sharing this, girls!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing! Just last night I got word that a friend of mine who has been battling cancer was transferred to ICU and may not have made it. I don't live near her, so I am waiting tobe able talk to one of our friends that was with her and her family all day yesterday.
ReplyDeleteLifecan be over or titally changed in an instant...Jenni, I know you know this.....And like Rowling used the Potter books to show, love is greater than death.
I am trying to be happy for my friend and her family, but honestly, I am overcome with sadness.
God is doing something here and is faithful.
Kristin, you don't look like a horse! I was thinking you look cute and happy and I love your dress or top or whatever it is. Seriously, it's a goid picture!
I love that the harry potter books are so powerful in so many different ways. My favorite quote from the book is, 'it does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live'.
ReplyDeleteI had my HP tattoo drawn up, I can't wait to get it!
I was never allowed to read Harry Potter as a child. As I entered high school, however, and had a little more freedom, I decided it was time. Let's jus say they have now become some of my favorite books! Loving Harry Potter has been such a great way for me to spark conversation and make memories with people. It truly is literature genius.
ReplyDeleteLovely post -- and how nice and fun to reflect on how fabulous HP is. I really need to re-read the series!
ReplyDeleteharry potter is just wonderful fact!
ReplyDeletei love the fact that the books show that there is so much that is more important than life and power--love, bravery, dignity and most of all the sense of right and wrong.
if only i could have gone to hogwarts :)
I love this post. Jenni, you already knew I admired you as a writer and blogger, and to see Kristin's writing on your blog is almost seamless. She is a beautiful writer too!
ReplyDeleteAnd who doesn't love HP? Silly people. That's who.
i nearly cried reading this- i cannot express how much harry potter has touched me, my soul, my spirit, my life!
ReplyDeleteand seriously, jenni, if it werent for your posts about HP, i may have never even CONSIDERED watching the movies.. then realizing i NEED to own the books...
oh i LOVE this series.. please dont stop with it!!!
I read the first Harry Potter book before I turned 11. I wished and wished that I'd get a letter from Hogwarts on my 11th birthday (is that too old to wish something like that?! I hope not!)and I was so sad when the letter didn't come. I wanted to be a witch like Hermione. I continued to read each book multiple times until the series finished, and I still go back and read the last one again and again to transport myself back to that magical Harry Potter world. I'm excited to hear that there are others who appreciate the series as much (more?!) than I do.
ReplyDeleteOh lord. First time at your blog and you've already swooned me with your posting about life lessons via Harry Potter!! ;)
ReplyDeleteanother moment in time where i'm like, "i should read harry potter."
ReplyDeleteThe "something worth fighting for" moment is inevitably the point where I can no longer hold back tears in any book or movie.
ReplyDeleteFull disclosure: I haven't read all of the HP books, but I have seen all of the movies. I think courage and friendship are my favourite themes, though there are so many life lessons to be taken from the books.
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