Outreach no. 218

              OUTREACH the newsletter of 7 ilke olke elke 57effiaidea etucicfo 61 IT saelzetcl sfrctaat itttcutcuicun f kaev Kt kttv tv MARCUS BACH founder NO 218 THE LETTER dear friend of the fellowship for the past two months I 1 have been working under a challenge perhaps a dare would be a better way of putting it the dare was this the preparation of a personalized essay on THE BIBLE AND 1 I the title was enough to tantalize anyone and it wouldnt let me go the more I 1 got into it the more it took on the form of an autobiography a research narrative even an unfinished symphony it is no easy assignment to write about the bible and what it actually means in ones life think about it for a moment there is asong abong that says 1 I love to tell the story but when you begin telling it you may find elements that are highly controversial there is a chance of being both loved and misunderstood at certain points you will realize the story cannot be written without hidden meanings and overtones revolving around inescapable adventures in ones spiritual quest and when you get into writing your own THE BIBLE AND 1 I and dare to be honest about it there is no greater greaten great lr challenge than to stick to the job and get it done well I 1 1 dont know whether a piece of writing is ever really done As far as this attempt is concerned THE BIBLE AND I 1 1 will appear in three installments As you know FSU is planning to publish a series of LITTLE BOOKS ON LIFELONG LEARNING I 1 would hope that THE BIBLE AND I 1 1 would serve as good material for this venture as well as for study group matter you will be the best judge of all this your reception through the years your support and encouragement have always provided answers in a telephone talk just the other evening with a longtime reader in hawaii the woman said your research has been one of the joys of my life I 1 used to listen to your university broadcasts in the midwest and I 1 always said that you were not telling us what to believe but explaining what others believed and letting us form our own conclusions there are those in our readership who are excellent literary critics there are those who are the most gracious of commentators the most selfless of supporters the best of inspiration inspirationists ists ests I 1 simply had to take the dare on THE BIBLE AND 1 I and I 1 know you will find responses in your own thoughts about the bible and you as you think about your own sharing and experiences in the field of spiritual understanding yours for the fellowship &