Thoughts on reading.
Read to improve your use of language. I love words. I use them constantly, whether I’m talking, writing hymns, or preparing sermons. Reading those who use words well (Twain, Hawthorne, Austen) is good for me, even ministerially. On that note, I enjoy reading novels from my friend Janet. Her stories are instructional and inspiring, and they’re artistically written. You’ll learn to communicate more thoughtfully and vividly by reading good fiction.
Read to illustrate. You’ll have a hard time finding a better example of justification (our being treated differently because of our exchanging of spiritual garments with Christ) than Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper. Les Miserables is a pitiful demonstration of human need and of gracelessness. The Journey to the Center of the Earth might help you explain… Well, there are exceptions. Ughh, but you get the point.
Read for fellowship. Reading Laura Ingles Wilder books and The Chronicles of Narnia was time well spent. Talking about Johnny Tremain with my friend, Tamika (who loves reading also) has been a small joy. (“How far along are you? Did this surprise you? What did you think about…?”) I’m an incurably social person, and I think it’s more fun to read when you can share the experience.
Read to relax. It’s a blessing to get involved in a good story. Sure, you need to read widely and not always lightly. I’m sure I err on the side of simplicity. But I’m much more relaxed and fulfilled after curling up with a classic novel than after watching the same story butchered by a Hollywood remake.
I’m no great reader—not by any stretch of the imagination. I’m too random. I’m too slow. (I wish I could turn off whatever it is that makes me legalistically read every.. single.. word and muse on the construction of every.. single.. sentence.) LOL, I’m sure I should read more Puritans. There are classic theological works which are unknown to me. I should read more non-fiction. So I’ll work at it. Still, I urge you to mix in some fiction once in a while, and don’t feel like it has to be something difficult.
- Learn.
- Think.
- Get informed.
- Relax.
And rejoice in the common grace that makes it possible. In fact, as it’s my day off and the house is empty, I think I’ll go take my own advice right now.. :)
