As I mentioned yesterday, this past weekend we went to Austin to greet my sister at the finish line of the MS150. After two days of biking through the Texas countryside, we hoped that it would be an encouragement to my sister to know that family was waiting for her at the end. The trip was also a bit of a pilgrimage for my husband since he graduated from the University of Texas and lived in Austin for fifteen years.
We had a few hours to kill Sunday, so we wandered a bit on the UT campus. We eventually ended up at the Harry Ransom Center, where I was shocked to find that they had this:
That’s a Gutenberg Bible, people!
I’d actually seen a Gutenberg Bible when I was a kid living in Germany, but what do you know when you’re ten years old? Twenty-five years later, I was appropriately moved by the historical importance of the book.
I was moved by the fact that the first book printed on a printing press, which would make the Renaissance and Scientific Revolution possible, was a Book that makes personal spiritual reformation possible.
I was moved by the fact that the design of the first printing press was possibly based on the design of wine presses, and that the first Book published on that printing press tells about a Man who’s first recorded miracle was turning water into wine.
And I was moved by the fact that Gutenberg made such a positive and immeasurable impact on the body of Christ simply by doing what he was made to do.
I wonder how many times he doubted his passion. If he ever thought that he was wasting his time and nothing would come from all of his hard work.
Whatever doubts may have come along the way, he followed his vision through. And hundreds of years later, I can sip a latte in a coffee shop while working on a Bible study or reading a good novel.
I went to Austin hoping to encourage, but left as the one encouraged.
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