WWDD

[Grace]

This past weekend at LeakyCon I went to a talk by John Granger, an excellent scholar and author (if you haven't read his books, I highly recommend them), and while he was talking about Deathly Hallows he said something that really spoke to me. He was talking about what Dumbledore left Hermione ("Tales of Beedle the Bard"), and the specific task he had in mind for her, and he summed it up as follows: "Read a kid's book, interpret its meaning, save the world." Well, as you can imagine, that made me sit up and pay attention.

"Read a kid's book, interpret its meaning, save the world."

Isn't that what the HP Alliance is about? Reading Harry Potter (the "kid's book" part is arguable, I grant you). Interpreting its meanings. Using what we learn and discover to change our world for the better.

In fact, that's what this new initiative "What Would Dumbledore Do?" really boils down to. WWDD gives us the opportunity to not just read about Dumbledore, but to examine him in more detail and to pull out lessons and examples from his life that have taught us something important or that could in some way benefit our world.

So, whether you were at LeakyCon or whether you're just following online, I hope you'll get excited about this project and this amazing opportunity we have. Seriously, just think about it: What would Dumbledore do? And as you ponder, share your ideas with the rest of us. Let's celebrate this amazing wizard and all the things he has to teach us.

We've read the books, now let's interpret their meaning. Better yet, let's save the world!

[Brigid Courtney]

I have a couple of Grangers books and I really enjoy reading him. He has helped me a lot in my prayer life with the HP books..When ever I get a bit down and doubtful I think about death being the next great adventure.. I also used to think many years ago I had not a choice about some things but now I think of Dumbledore and what he said about choices.. also I learned a lot about not believeing what we see and hear on the surface.. because things are not always what they seem to us..

[Malory]

John Granger:

"Read a kid's book, interpret its meaning, save the world."

He was amazing! I've been devouring his new book.

Grace, could you link on your post to the What Would Dumbledore Do? profile.

[Grace]

Hey Eric! John Granger writes academic books looking at different themes in Harry Potter. The ones I'm most familiar with are "Looking for God in Harry Potter," "The Deathly Hallows Lectures," "How Harry Cast His Spell," and his newest one which isn't out yet (it comes out July 7) which is called "Harry Potter's Bookshelf." He's seriously one intelligent, funny, passionate, and humble guy, and his insights into the Harry Potter stories are amazing!

I'm glad you're thinking about getting involved with HPA. I'm actually not part of a chapter (there isn't one close enough to me right now), though I'd love to be eventually. I just follow the projects online, and about a month ago started working as a copywriter for the staff. I started really paying attention back with the Lord Waldemart videos, but didn't really get involved personally until StandFast and especially the AccioBooks book drive this March. How about you? How did you hear about the HPA?

[Eric Mayrhofer]

Hi, Grace! What kind of book does this J. Granger write? Out of curiosity. I've never heard of him before.

Also, very great insights on your part. I don't belong to a chapter of HPA (yet), but I love that there's a social justice organization that's managed to tap itself into the passion of millions of people around the world. How did you get started w/ HPA anyway?