Invisible

“There was once a little Princess who—”

“But, Mr. Author, why do you always write about princesses?”
“Because every little girl is a princess.”
George MacDonald, “The Princess and the Goblin”


As a child I was enchanted by this book, especially the edition with the illustrations by Jessie Wilcox Smith. I immediately recognized the invisible thread that leads Irene to rescue Curdie as the Holy Spirit who guides Christians. As soon as I finish writing my second murder mystery and return from Zambia, I hope to begin on the music to accompany the libretto I have written based on this children’s story.


John 16:7-13 New International Version (NIV)

But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. 12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.