THE BIBLE IN MY LIFE September 1, 2003 Issue

The Spirit in the Word

By Elaine Follis

MY MOTHER TOLD the best Bible stories in the world. As a youngster, I was spellbound by the sweep of the narrative as Mother described it and as I eventually was able to read it for myself. But at an even more basic level, I sensed the power behind the words. Every encounter I had with Scripture then felt energized in that unmistakable way.

My view shifted as I pursued an advanced degree in Biblical studies and became a college professor. For a while my focus on the Bible was mostly intellectual. That sort of inquiry soon wore thin for me, however. I felt myself hungering for the spirit, beyond the letter, of God's word.

I also found my world falling apart—my career and several relationships in a tangle, my health suffering. I became so ill I could scarcely get out of bed to meet classes each morning.