Wonder - The Julian Chapter

Take a moment and remember how it felt reading Wonder. Remember the parts that made you happy and sad? The parts that made you angry or frustrated? Remember feeling overjoyed? What about the parts that left you wondering, "Why?"

Now think about the scenes with Julian. What emotions did you feel during those parts? Did any of those situations leave you wondering "Why?" Did you ever try to answer the question? Why did Julian act that way? Take a moment and think about it. Take 30 seconds to turn to your neighbor and talk about it.

And now, on to the story. The Julian Chapter: A Wonder Story begins with a quote from Ian Maclaren. It reads:

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."

Who do you think this quote is referring to? The quote is under a picture of Julian, so is the quote telling Julian to be kind? Or maybe the quote talking to you and me, the readers? If the quote is talking to us as readers, then who are we supposed to be kind to? And no matter who the quote is for, what does it mean that everyone is "fighting a hard battle"?

Ian Maclaren was the pen name for Rev. John Watson who lived in Scotland in the late 1800s and early 1900s. He was an author and minister. The quote was slightly different at first. It originally read:

"Be pitiful, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."

Break that word down. Pitiful. Full of pity. Be full of "the feeling of sorrow and compassion caused by the suffering and misfortunes of others" for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.

(Personally, I like "kind" better just because it fits with Choose Kind, but "pitiful" gives us something more to think about.)

Ian Maclaran: source

Continue to The Julian Chapter: Before - Pages 3-16