Themes from My Utmost for His Highest in Poppy

I used major themes taken from My Utmost for His Highest when I wrote A Poppy in Remembrance.

They serve as the “backbone” of the story, and should not be obvious.

But they provided me with a way of enriching the spiritual aspects of the book.

In the novel, twenty-year-old Claire comes to a personal faith at the Bible Training College (BTC).

She takes Chambers’ correspondence course and sits under his actual teaching in both London and Cairo.

After Chambers’ death, Claire examines her own shorthand notes for wisdom and encouragement.

By the end of the story, and the war, she understands what it means to be Chambers’ famous “broken bread and poured out wine.”

Where did the themes come from?

Early in my research, I listened to a lecture by Dr. Ken Boa on “Themes from My Utmost for His Highest,” as part of Breakpoint’s Great Books Series (produced in 2007).

He listed sixteen specific themes taken from the 366-daily readings.

I used a number of them as conflict points in the novel.

How did I use the themes in A Poppy in Remembrance?

Here are several themes from My Utmost for His Highest and quotes from A Poppy in Remembrance demonstrating them.

Surrender of the Will and the Cost of Discipleship

Claire’s head swam. How could Claire’s decision to attend a prayer meeting have resulted in her mother’s worst nightmare?

Identification with Christ

Anne grabbed Claire’s chin. “I don’t care what OC says. I want to know what you think. Use your brain.”

“Sanctification means I can live a holy life with purpose and when I die, I won’t disappear into oblivion, I’ll go to heaven.” Claire’s hands turned clammy.

Prayer

Claire shrugged. She avoided the editor as much as possible. “I guess you could say I’ve learned how to manage my reactions to the war news.”

Prayer sometimes involves looking up.

He snorted. “Who can adapt to this nightmare?”

“I pray and leave the war in God’s hands.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

Claire stowed away her notepad and pencil. Prayer had become a whispered ritual: “I give my worries to you, Lord, help me, and help them.” On devastating news days, her prayers never ended.

God’s Guidance in Our Lives

A sailor paced past. “Keep your eyes peeled for a U-boat,” he said. “The Huns sank a ship in the Channel yesterday off Calais.”

Claire’s heart lurched, but Biddy looked unperturbed. “God’s will goes before us.”

The Role of Service and Faithfulness in the Ordinary

“Are you the Meacham princess here? What is the attitude of your heart toward manual tasks?”

“I’m not a princess, but I don’t do chores like dishes.” She cringed even as she spoke.

“Why not try now?”

A verse from the lecture whispered. Jesus said, “Whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.”

Claire squirmed. “It’s time for me to be on my way.”

“Half an hour, Claire. Can you not wash dishes for half an hour?”

She thrust gloves, pencil, and the remainder of her note pad into her bag. “Fine. I’ll dry dishes, but you’ll need to escort me home. It’s getting late.”

He gestured downstairs to the kitchen.

Intercession, Trust, and Obedience 

A verse threaded through Claire’s mind, in one ear and out the other, gentle, quiet, comforting: “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? Why art thou disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise him.”

How often had Jim asked if she trusted God? How had Biddy found the courage to never doubt God or his word with OC’s death?

“Do I believe my life is yours, Lord, to your glory?”

Claire nodded. She did.

And if her loved ones died? Would she still worship such a God?

Claire didn’t want to consider the horror, but she needed to. Did she have any other choice than to submit her life to the God who already owned it?

Perspectives on Adversity, the Past, and the Future

“The poppy flourishes after the seeds lie dormant for years,” Claire said.

“It’s when events churn the soil around them they germinate. What does the poppy teach? A glimpse of the future, life goes on, beauty can survive ugliness, and hope exists in the world.”

Other thoughts on themes

The My Utmost for His Highest themes are a backbone, but other themes run through A Poppy in Remembrance.

I hold a degree in English Literature from the University of California, Los Angeles. I’ve been trained to recognize themes in literature and watch for what they mean.

Until I read A Poppy in Remembrance aloud, I didn’t realize a key theme had slipped in.

Rather than point it out, I’ll just say watch for how the author uses flowers throughout the book.

You may be as surprised as I was!

Thanks, Dr. Ken Boa, for a wonderfully insightful lecture on My Utmost for His Highest!

Tweetables

How a writer used themes from My Utmost for His Highest in her novel. Click to Tweet

My Utmost for His Highest prompts a WWI novel. Click to Tweet

Using My Utmost for His Highest themes as a backbone to a WWI novel. Click to Tweet