THEO OF GOLDEN BOOK CLUB - WEEK 10 - CHAPTERS 46 - 50

THEO OF GOLDEN by Allen Levi

While these chapters do begin to give us a few reveals about Theo, they also continue to build the mystery. But it wasn't so much these components that caused me to stop and think in this week's chapters. It was the topic of what is truly valuable and what is just static noise in our world today.

CHAPTER 46

What do we learn about Theo in this chapter? We learn that he only truly loved one woman in his life, and it wasn't his wife.

We knew bits and pieces of this through some of the past chapters. This time, Theo actually spends a moment talking about it with Tony. We learn it lasted less than a year, and that she left.

The quote Theo shares with Tony is worth spending a few minutes on. "A man who loves all women loves no woman. A man who loves only one woman loves all women." What are your thoughts on that? Flushing that out a bit, it's easy to understand that a man who can't keep his eyes off all women isn't going to have a significant relationship with a woman in his life. Who wants to feel like they're always in competition for whomever walks by that man? Can a world of trust. care, and security be built on such a roving foundation? The answer is definitely no. However, the man who loves one woman learns to respect women as a whole, not only in how he treats them, but how he views them. They aren't his playing field. Many of them are committed to someone else and off limits. He knows that and respects it.

Closure to the Clarise portrait, the former girlfriend of Cleve. Do you remember him? The only person that destroyed a portrait. The only scene where we have seen Theo lose his temper. Thankfully, Mia is no longer with him. She escaped his clutches. In a moving moment. Mia requests that Theo destroy the portrait, and he does. Mia is no longer the woman in that portrait. Do you remember the description of her face in the chapter about her portrait? It was beautiful, "magazine worthy," but it held "sadness." It had clearly suffered "loss." I'm wondering if that loss was the loss of herself within that relationship. That girl is gone.

CHAPTER 47

What do we learn about Theo? We learn some of the ways he has celebrated Thanksgiving in the past. I was moved to see how despite his loses in life, he is a man who still celebrates in meaningful ways.

I had to smile as I read this chapter. I was eating pumpkin gouda cheese with crackers, and I felt immediately transported into the heart of fall.

The mention of "ghosts" was interesting. Typically, when people mention ghosts they're associated with things that are from their past, their memories. This whole event is going to be a door that cracks this mystery open a bit more.

I abolutely loved the description of the leaves in this chapter. The referece to the Gingkgo trees shining as bright as Shekinah Glory, I find myself wondering if that means God is blessing this whole endeavor of Theo's with His presence? A sort of sacredness to what he is trying to accomplish?

CHAPTER 48

What do we learn about Theo? We learn that he is not above confronting someone and making them squim about the useless things they spout out of their mouth. We also see the attention he gives to 3 portraits of Asher's mom that show her at 25, 50, and 75 - the aging and changing of a life. There's something more here.

There is a lot we could cover in this chapter, but I mainly want to focus on the juxtaposed scenes of before Pearce arrives and after he arrives.

Before Pearce arrives, we have a scene worthy of a Hallmark movie = the food, the friends and family, the atmosphere, the house. Then Pearce arrives, and it's as if a tornado comes through and destroys everything that is beautiful and valuable. He is as self-centered as they come. He is a constant, crass interruption, and he ruins everything that is trying to be celebrated and enjoyed. I could feel myself tense at his abrasive nature just reading the chapter, and I couldn't wait for him to leave. Theo is of the older generation that doesn't shy away from speaking directly into what they are seeing. You gotta love the older generation. I remember watching my grandfather do this in his later years. There is a realization that time is valuable, that it comes to an end, and that often times people chase folly in their lives. What a fool Pearce is! But how often do we value the same type of things that he is saying? How many times do we value money over service to others? Once upon a time missionaries were more plentiful and the common man lived to make the world a better place for others. It wasn't this "I'm gettin' mine" mentality. I fear that we are moving at such a fast pace in life that we aren't really thinking about what we are dedicating our time and energy to and what that end picture looks like. We all breathe a sigh of relief when Pearce leaves, but guess what? Pearce needs saving as much as the rest of the world does.

CHAPTER 49/50

What do learn in this chapter about Theo? His thoughtfulness extending to the point of the gifts he chooses for each of his friends. Theo is in New York attending to "business." Wonder what type of business that is? I still feel like we have a health crisis going on.

Don't you love how Mrs. Gidley gets roped into the "Santa's Elf" roll? I had to laugh at that idea. Mrs. Gidley has come to appreciate what Theo is doing with the portraits, and Theo knows it. That's why he commissions one for her. Oh my! What a moment to think about.

Last part I'm going to talk about is the letter to Asher and the emphasis put on lthe importance of looking into a newborn baby's face - drinking each other in. There's something deeper that Theo is alluding to behind these words. I just know it.

Thoughts? Comments? I'd love to hear them!