When Ian Fleming delivered his first James Bond novel, Casino Royale, to the publisher, they were reluctant to publish it. It was so different from existing spy novels. Plus, it seemed so ... well, unbelievable. In fact, if not for the intervention of Fleming’s brother, who had been published by those folks, we might never have had James Bond.
Let that sink in.
Today, with James Bond books and movies all about us, it seems strange to think someone balked at launching Agent 007. He is the template for modern spies, certainly for Cold War spies. Without Bond, would we even have Jason Bourne? The whole genre of spy fiction might not exist.
So, what was the problem?
It lay in the genius of the thing. Fleming, a former British Naval Intelligence Officer (i.e., spy), created a fictional character as an amalgam of actual spies. Bond was a mashup of Fleming and other clandestine operatives he knew and had worked with. The tales of 007 reflected actual spy missions.
There had never been anything quite like it.
Today, we have a special appreciation for that kind of fact-based fiction. Today, when a former “operative” writes a book about spy stuff, publishers are all over it. And it’s all because of that original publisher’s experience with that first James Bond novel. The initial print run of that hardback sold out in less than a month. A second printing that same month also sold out that same month! Next, a third printing of 8,000 hardback copies quickly sold out. By then, they understood what they had: a gold mine.
This—valuing the words of those with experience—is the mindset we need to bring to Wisdom.
Wisdom calls to anyone who will hear her. She offers to share her benefits with anyone and everyone. They are open to all. We need only seek her.
That’s the central message from this week’s selection from Proverbs chapter 8. But it’s not the only message we find there. After making her appeal, she does something we lovers of modern spy novels can appreciate: she shares her bona fides. Wisdom tells us she is the real deal, that she’s not some hack offering the philosophy du jour or just telling us what we want to hear.
So, what’s in her resume?
•The first of God’s creation, before the beginning of the earth.
•When God established the heavens, she was there.
•During creation, she was next to God, serving as a master craftsman and director of the work.
•God delighted in her.
•She delighted in God’s inhabited world and the human race.
Why seek Wisdom? Why trust in her to be our guide? God’s wisdom is so different from the existing experience of the world. At first it seems … well, unbelievable. But God’s wisdom call to anyone who will hear her.
And remember, she was there when it all began. She had a role in creation. She knows, first hand, what was intended, and knows the purpose within the design.
Even a Cold War spy could trust a resume like that.
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PHOTO (Agent 007 playing golf with bad guy Goldfinger. Read this brief article to find out why golf mattered to Bond and his creator):
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Once again, DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast is meeting Friday morning at Our Breakfast Place and on Zoom.** We start at 8:00, enjoying an hour of great fellowship, good food, Bible study, and a “robust exchange of ideas.” Join us!
Blessings,
Steve
**Contact me for the Zoom link
NOTE: Zoom allows you to mute the camera and microphone if you don’t wish to be seen or heard.
SCRIPTURES FOR SUNDAY AND THE COMING WEEK
Read them here:
Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31
Psalm 8
Romans 5:1-5
John 16:12-15
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