Madeleine L'Engle - Penguins and Golden Calves: Icons and Idols

Despite protests and warnings from friends and family, author Madeleine L&#8217;Engle, at the age of seventy-four, embarked on a rafting trip to Antarctica. Her journey through the startling beauty of the continent led her to write <i>Penguins and Golden Calves, </i>a captivating discussion of how opening oneself up to icons, or everyday &#8220;windows to God,&#8221; leads to the development of a rich and deeply spiritual faith. <br><br>Here, L&#8217;Engle explains how ordinary things such as family, words, the Bible, heaven, and even penguins can become such windows. She also shows how such a window becomes an idol&#8211;a penguin becomes a &#8220;golden calf&#8221;&#8211;whe n we see it as a reflection of itself instead of God. <br><br>With delightful language, insightful metaphor, and personal stories, L&#8217;Engle brings readers to a deeper understanding of themselves, their faith, and the presence of God in their daily lives. Minimize