Teaching a Stone to Talk

by Joey Davis

In her book, Teaching a Stone to Talk, Annie Dillard makes this observation about a venture of the Royal Navy as a means exposing the hard headed attitudes of some folks concerning needs versus wants.

She writes, "In 1845, Sir John Franklin and 138 officers and men embarked from England to find the northwest passage across the high Canadian Arctic to the Pacific Ocean. They sailed in two three-masted barques. Each sailing vessel carried an auxiliary steam engine and a twelve-day supply of coal for the entire projected two or three years' voyage. Instead of additional coal, according to L.P. Kirwain, each ship made room for a 1,200-volume library, 'a hand organ playing fifty tunes,' china place settings for the officers and a different pattern for the enlisted men, cut glass wine goblets, and sterling silver flatware. The officers' sterling silver knives, forks, and spoons were particularly interesting. The silver was of ornate Victorian design, very heavy at the handles and richly patterned. Engraved on the handles were the

Individual officers' initials and family crests. The expedition carried no special clothing for the Arctic, only the uniforms of Her Majesty's Navy."

The first time I heard this, I admit that I forgot about the purpose of their expedition and was in awe of the finery with which they had afforded themselves. Then I began thinking. What good will all of this "stuff" do you while you are freezing to death? By the way, they froze to death and as Paul Harvey would say, "That's the rest of the story!"

What went dreadfully wrong is that these people did not consider the purpose or hardships of such a venture before making proper provisions. Sometimes Christians can be the same way. . .

. . . John told us that we are not to love the world, nor the things in the world for if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Why did he speak so strongly about loving "stuff?" Because there is not one single thing in this world, besides a relationship with Jesus, that can prepare you for the expedition from this world to the next. For Christians, committing oneself to God's 66 book library, eating at the Master's table, and being clothed in Christ are the only provisions that are needed for a journey to our eternal destination.

It's okay to have this worlds goods. . . but don't ever love anything that can't love you back.

Annie Dillard, Teaching a Stone to Talk (New York: Harper and Row, 1982),24-25.