Spend Time With God By Reading
“Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.” ~ Mason Cooley
I am sure that I have shared this with you before; however, I say again that I owe a great debt of gratitude to my mother who, among many other things, taught me the value of reading. She insisted that her children learn to read and read as much as we could. She took us to the library when we were younger and allowed us to go to the library by ourselves when we got older. One of the most important documents of my early life was my library card.
Reading does so much for a person. It increases a person’s vocabulary. It broadens the mind and perspective. It tantalizes. It prompts exploration. It nurtures creativity. There is nothing that reading, in my opinion, cannot do.
Mason Cooley shares with us his thought about reading: “Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.” I identify with that completely. When I was younger and it was pouring outside or we were in the midst of a blizzard, I would go to Africa, to Indonesia, and to other parts of the globe just by opening a book and reading about the places or reading a story located there.
I learned at an early age that reading a book was always much more preferable to watching a movie based on the book. For one reason, the movie has to leave out so many details in order to keep things within a two hour time frame. For another — and more important — reason, a movie takes away the reader’s opportunity to vision places and characters as he or she sees fit.
Can you imagine standing next to Jesus, listening to Him speak? Can you see yourself sitting in the midst of a group of disciples, talking about Jesus’ miracles? Can you be present as miracles are worked through a saint? Can you imagine having lunch with Mother Teresa, St. Francis, or others? You can if you read about them. If you read the Bible, you place yourself right in the midst of Jesus and His disciples. If you read a book, you can see and hear the great saints. If you read a book, you can watch as Masada was overtaken and so many great people died in the standoff.
Reading has the power to transport anyone anywhere. It is possible to be with the Lord and with the great saints of old. Snuggle up with a good book, open the pages, and open your mind and heart to the possibilities therein.
FAITH ACTION: Want to find the Lord today? Try opening your Bible or some other religious/spiritual reading book and spend some time with Him.