On Being Biddy Chambers’ Biographer

I’m a biographer.

Such a strange word and one I wasn’t expecting and yet, I like it.

It took me a long time, as my friend Wendy said, “to own the title biographer.”

As far as I was concerned, I was telling a story. It just happened to be about Biddy Chambers.

Circumstances surprised me into realizing it was something else.

Biographer as Expert

I was chatting with an Oswald Chambers expert one day about how Biddy compiled My Utmost for His Highest.

He’s creative and in his irrepressible way tossed out idea after idea.

I’d respond with, “well, she did this.” Or, “this is how that worked.”

Finally he stopped and said, “Wow. How do you know that?”

Momentarily confused–why didn’t he know that fact?–I stuttered out an answer.

But of course he wouldn’t know all the information I had. He wrote about My Utmost for His Highest, not about Biddy.

Until then, I hadn’t realized I had become an expert–but of course I am, because that’s what a biographer is.

What about heaven?

On All Saint’s Day, our pastor sat on the floor with the children to talk about what the day meant.

“Think about how much fun it will be to arrive in heaven–the people you’ll see.

“‘Look, over there! It’s Peter and the apostles. Is that Abraham? Let’s go talk to David about his harp.

“Heaven is a wonderful place, and you’ll get to see all sorts of people from the Bible and talk to them.”

I took his point, but also thought of other people we’ll see in heaven.

Why didn’t Lutheran Pastor Beyer include Martin Luther?

Pascal and Bach will be there; we’ll see Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Why, even–I caught my breath– Oswald and Biddy will be there.

I confess a moment of horror. What will they say to me?

Maybe I could slip in the back and avoid them? They wouldn’t come looking for me would they?

I had never realized I’ll have to meet the person I’m writing about. What if I got something wrong?

Laughter and this biographer

When I described my misgivings about meeting the Chambers couple someday, my husband shook his head.

“Oswald will be laughing. He’ll be happy you ‘outed’ his wife. You don’t have to worry about meeting him.

“Biddy, though, probably won’t be pleased. She hid herself so well and you’ve just told the world all about her.”

It’s reassuring to think Oswald will be on my side, but I’ve wondered if any other biographers feel the same way?

Will Eric Metaxas be avoiding Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Luther, or engaging them in lively conversation?

That actually made me feel better. Metaxas will be talking with and correcting his subjects.

(Fancy listening to those three chatting!)

I’ll just be asking questions like, “Did I get that right?” or “What were you thinking, Biddy?”

As long as Oswald and my husband-the-saint-(whenever he arrives), are there standing by, I’ll be fine.

Won’t I?

The title biographer becomes real to the world

While everyone in my family, church, Bible study, work and circle of friends–including many of you– knows I’ve been writing a biography, I lost track of the final truth.

Mrs. Oswald Chambers was released to the world on October 17, 2017–while my family was evacuated from the Sonoma County fires.

The first time I saw the book listed for sale on the internet, I blinked and widened my eyes.

I’d seen the cover–and certainly know the story. I’d ordered the photos. I’ve lived with Biddy’s face, actions and words for four years.

But there she was in black and white, with gold filigree on the side and my name beneath.

It was an honor to be able to introduce Gertrude Annie (Biddy) Hobbs Chambers’ life story to the world.

That’s when it hit home.

I must be her biographer.

Tweetables

Accepting the surprising title: biographer of Mrs. Oswald Chambers. Click to Tweet

A biographer considers meetings Mrs. Oswald Chambers in heaven. Click to Tweet

Why didn’t I realize I was Mrs. Oswald Chambers’ biographer until now? Click to Tweet

I was too busy relishing the adventures God took me on while writing about Oswald and Biddy Chambers to factor in my “title.”

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