Prompt Response: That Printer of Udell’s by Harold Bell Wright
What’s a book that completely surprised you?
The 1902 Novel That Totally Surprised Me (…And Ronald Reagan)
It’s a book written over a century ago, in 1902, by Harold Bell Wright called “That Printer of Udell’s,” but don’t let its age dissuade you from giving it a chance.
I wasn’t actually looking for the book, or any book, when I came across this. I was in the “World’s Largest Toy Museum” in Branson, Missouri, and a part of it includes the “Harold Bell Wright Museum.” I’d never even heard of the man or any of his books, but I quickly found out that The Shepherd of The Hills references in that area were based on one of Bell’s books by the same name. I left with a few books, including That Printer of Udell’s (this links to the free online download at “Project Gutenberg”) recommended by the store proprietor.
Going into it, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Beyond occasionally trying to comprehend some of the thick, old-fashioned “hillbilly” dialects of the region used at the beginning of the book, I was hooked within a couple of chapters. And I was amazed by how deeply this story resonated with me.
What’s it about, you ask? The story is set in the busy, sometimes harsh Midwestern town of Boyd City. It follows the main character Dick Falkner, a young man who has survived a brutal childhood; complete with an alcoholic father, wild yet motherly “madams” for the boy’s babysitters and landlords, and extreme poverty. Dick travels to the city in search of a fresh start, only to face starvation and unemployment no matter how hard he’s willing to work. Worse, the cold indifference of the local church congregations is hard on his spirit as well as his body.
Just as he’s ready to give up, he is hired by George Udell, a kind-hearted printer who’s willing to give him a chance as an apprentice. Through this turning point, Dick encounters real Christianity—not the hypocritical kind he saw from afar, but a faith lived out through kindness, love, and public service. Dick’s later transformation ripples through the entire community.
What surprised me most about this book was its spiritual depth and how it could apply just as well in 2026 and beyond. It beautifully demonstrates the fantastic life changes that happen when a person shifts from mere self-reliance and survivorship to allowing God to set the moral compass and direction of their life. Dick goes from a man just trying to endure day-to-day to a man with an unshakeable purpose driven by The Lord. It’s a powerful reminder that we weren’t meant to carry the weight of the world only on our own shoulders.
As it turns out, I’m not the only one who was deeply impacted by this book. A young boy in Illinois read That Printer of Udell’s at just 11 years of age, and it altered the course of his entire life. That boy was Ronald Reagan.
In the museum, they have the letter where Reagan later stated that the book left an indelible impression on him, shaping his own faith and his view of human nature. He even said that Dick Falkner became a role model for him, inspiring him to become a person who fights for what is right. If a turn-of-the-century novel could help shape a future president, you know there is something powerful in the story.
If you are looking for a story that is inspiring and historically fascinating, and one that will challenge your own Christian walk in the best way possible, I highly encourage you to click the link above to download a free copy in your favorite format. Project Gutenberg offers many options, including Kindle. But you can also check Amazon or other bookstores for print copies. Either way, I highly recommend the read. Push past the dated dialect at the beginning, and I promise you will find a timeless message of grace and the power of a changed life. It will challenge how you see both “sinners” and “saints” in your life.
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Love is…
Crystal A Murray (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
Never having to say your sorry?
Do you remember the popular saying which grew from the tag line to the Love Story movie? For me, this was playing out in a chaotic part of life complete with teenage angst. I’m not sure any teen likes to admit defeat or say sorry since they mostly feel they are always right. But something about this statement always bothered me. Apparently, I wasn’t alone.
In 1970, an Australian artist named Kim Casali was drawing adorable little characters surrounded by hearts and proclaiming many statements about what “love is…” based on her real feelings for the true love of her life. She changed the movie quote to say, “Love is… Being able to say you’re sorry.” I agree, and I was fascinated by her story and the baby she had by her husband 17 months after his death. Read it on Wikipedia if you want to know more.
Because love is far more than a few words, or even a world full of books, there’s no way to put all of what love is into a single blog post. I can tell you that in the parts of speech, love can be a noun, a verb (that definition became a book series), or an adjective as in love language (which also became at least one book), but it’s so much more than speech. I can tell you about what love is in my own life, but that would take far more than one story. So, I decided to ask Gemini for 10 examples of what “love is” from Bible Scripture. Here are the statements it came up with along with Scripture references. I added links to the Bible.com site (or app if you have it) from the World English Bible (WEB US)….
* Love is patient and kind. It doesn’t rush to judgment and responds to harshness with gentleness. (1 Corinthians 13:4)
* Love is sacrificial. It is defined by the willingness to lay down one’s own life or interests for the sake of another. (John 15:13)
* Love is an action, not just a feeling. It is expressed through “deed and truth” rather than just words or speech. (1 John 3:18)
* Love is the fulfillment of the law. When we love our neighbors as ourselves, we naturally uphold all other moral commands. (Romans 13:10)
* Love is the “perfect bond of unity.” It acts as the glue that holds a community or relationship together in harmony. (Colossians 3:14)
* Love is the evidence of knowing God. Because “God is love,” those who truly know Him will reflect His character by loving others. (1 John 4:7–8)
* Love is not self-seeking. It does not insist on its own way or demand its own rights above the needs of others. (1 Corinthians 13:5)
* Love is a choice to forgive. It does not keep a “record of wrongs” but chooses to move forward in grace. (1 Corinthians 13:5)
* Love is courageous. It casts out fear, allowing us to be vulnerable and honest without the dread of punishment. (1 John 4:18)
* Love is eternal. While other gifts and seasons pass away, the value and impact of love never ends. (1 Corinthians 13:8)
My challenge to you readers is to come up with your own, personalized, list of what love is. You might say something like, “Love is my husband making me the perfect scrambled egg breakfast with green peppers, tomato, onion, and goat cheese.” Yes, my hubby really does that, and I taste the love he thinks he’s adding without my seeing it. 😁 Put your list on pretty paper to remind yourself of the love you hold on the days when it’s hard to remember. And never forget that God’s Holy Word is His love letter to us and that every good and perfect gift is love coming from Him.
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