I have a confession to make. I’m ‘addicted’ to books as well as to reading~and have been for years. I mean right now, I’m working through three biographies, a book of letters, an historical novel, another novel and assorted books about Christian spirituality~and in the midst of these active reads, I’m tempted to drive to Barnes and Noble to buy a few more. After all, I’m purposing to finish at least three of these by the end of the year~a tall order. So the question is, how in the world did I get so hooked on books?
It happened like this. A long time ago when, in elementary school, my fourth grade teacher encouraged her students to join a book club. She did this as she taught us that those who read well and like it are able to travel all over the world, and even back in time, to any place or era they want to visit while never leaving their home. She added how for readers the world would be both larger and smaller~larger because as readers we would gain a broader view of it and smaller because we could bring events and lands far off very near. And she explained how we could even meet characters from history who lived before by simply reading their biographies. To her, the world of readers was a much richer world.
Now even in the fourth grade, riches~and living in a rich world~was desirable so I took her advise and along with several other fellow students, joined the book club. The way it worked was, every month an order form came out with multiple choices of books on various subjects. After looking over the choices we, the students, could choose one or all the titles appearing there, pay a small price for the books (they were paper backs in the ’60’s so were really cheap~I mean in those days gasoline was $.25 cents per gallon even) and in a few days, usually a week, said books would arrive at the school. Our teacher would then distribute the treasures to we who were eagerly waiting and away we went~reading ’til the next order form came out.
I would usually order three or four books at a time~one per week ’til the next order came~which is where my habit of buying multiple books at one time must have come from~and would try and have the books read within the month. This cycle lasted for about nine months, through the school year~and by the end, I was~you guessed it~a book addict~and I’m afraid I’ve been that way ever since. Even today I can’t pass up a good book; and as far as I know there is no cure in site~but then, even if there was I wouldn’t take it ’cause frankly, it’s a good addiction.
You see, I’ve discovered that what my teacher said so many years ago is very true. Good books DO enable one to travel to regions beyond. They DO enable one to meet all sorts of characters from history and fantasy. Good books enable one to experience events of the past on the page. Good literature DOES make the world both larger and smaller. And books are even better than movies cause in a book one is privilege both to the events in the story but also the very thoughts of the actors. Books entertain. Books enrich. Books equip. Books expand ones mind and horizons~and if they are of a certain nature they even bring glory to God, exalt Jesus Christ and equip those who have faith in Christ to know, love and serve Him more.
Yes, I’m addicted to good books and will be, I guess, until my eyes grow dim and I can’t read anymore or I quit this life and go home, to the city whose builder and maker is God. And truthfully, for all the benefits acquired through reading, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
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