Reading and knitting have always been a way to escape for me.  Maybe that explains the hundreds of knit baby hats in my closet and the jam packed bookshelves in my house!  Need an escape, open a book.  Of course, in additon to an escape, books can also help give me a clear picture on the person I am and the person I want to become.  So, I am reading!   In addition to reading God's word, The Bible for clarity of how He wants me to live, I am reading Unchristian, and All Roads Lead to Austen.  A pretty eclectic book selection, if I do say so myself but then again, my life seems to be a little eclectic right now.   I looked up the definition of eclectic.  According to www.dictionary.com, "not following any one system, as of philosophy, medicine, etc., but selecting and using what are considered the best elements of all systems."   I love the way this definition, defines who I am and who I want to become.  I think that as I have been thinking about my Christian faith, selecting and considering the best elements of all systems is right on target.  For the first time in my life, I have really been challenged to look at what God's word has to say on how we live.   As I am reading Unchristian, I have been challenged to look at how I live my life for others to see it.   In the past month or two, I've been looking at how other's live their lives-some walk in grace, some walk in denial. There are those who walk in humility and those who walk in pride.  There are those that seek His face and there are those that seek their agendas.   Are any of these the "best elements of all systems"?  I am doubtful but I am certain, that whether escaping though books, or yarn, the process of selecting and using what Christ set as the standard gives me hope in a hopeless time.  Hope that even if I am lost in "All Roads Lead to Austen", realizing we're not always speaking the same language that I serve a faithful God that will lead me on the Road to eternity with Him.