Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Maylan Schurch
Sabbath, September 14, 2024
A couple of weeks ago in a used-book store I went to one of my favorite areas, the art technique section. There I saw the usual type of instruction guide such as the ones in the photo: Drawing Animals, Drawing Expressive Portraits, even a book on drawing fantasy dragons.
But next to them was a large book which caused me to grin: Character Sketches. Its title had led an inattentive staffer to stock it here. As I think back, I realize now that I should have taken this book to the counter and told them that it belonged in the religion section. I haven’t owned a copy for probably 20 years, but back when I was in seminary, the Christian world regarded this book, and its author, with respect. (However, in recent years this organization has been mired in scandals which have caused the founder, now 81, to step down.)
Character Sketches, as I remember, looked at the lives of Bible people and endeavored to draw life principles from them, which of course is a worthwhile goal. But we don’t need this book, because we have the Bible. Scripture stories are fascinating, because as we read them we see that people who lived thousands of years ago aren’t all that different from we are.
Click the link below and you’ll find a few verses about Bible characters, plus a list of those whose lives are especially meaningful.