Purposeful Reading

Quotes are taken from "Week-Day Religion" by J.R. Miller (1887)

"It is said that it would require hundreds of years to read the titles alone of all the books in the world’s libraries... It is therefore a physical impossibility to read all the books which the art of printing has put within our reach. Even if our whole time were to be devoted to reading, we could in our brief years peruse but a small portion of them."

Oh how true that is. I have shared a love for reading since childhood. I was always telling my parents: "We need more books." Don't get me wrong; we had lots of books while we were growing up. I mean LOTS. We would spend days organizing them in alphabetical order, making a master list of all our books, along with library cards for every member of the family. And it was to be made known if a book was taken off the shelf. Fun memories! But I had already read them all... and most of them more than once. The "real" library was conveniently located just around the block, and we got to know the librarian very well. Mrs. June was her name. :) I praise God that this love for reading has grown with me through the years. HE has taught me so much through my readings.

But "it is settled...that we must be content to leave the great mass of printed books unread."

"The important question, then, is, on what principle should we select out of this great wilderness of literature the books we shall read? ... For all books are not alike good. There are books that are not worth reading at all."

"The simplest wisdom teaches that we should choose those which will repay us most richly."

"...everything we read leaves its impression upon our inner life and makes its enduring mark upon our character..."

And that is true for all forms of media. That is something that God has really been pressing into us in the past couple years ~ everything we take into our mind {whether through books, blogs, movies, music, advertisements, etc}, must be filtered and examined from a Christian perspective. These activities should not be approached mindlessly. They are pulpits, trying to influence the way we think and feel.

"We are to admit into our minds nothing that may dim our spiritual vision or break in any degree the continuity of our communion with God; and it is well known that any corrupt thing, admitted even for a moment into our thoughts, not only stains our mind, but leaves a memory that may draw a trial of stain after it for ever."

I praise God that I was raised by parents that truly cared for me ~ they always kept tabs on what we were reading, watching, and listening too. I know my memory has less stains because of this.

"If we can read in our brief, busy years but a very limited number of books of any kind, should not those few be the very best, richest, most substantial and useful that we can find in the whole range of literature?"

"We should select conscientiously, wisely, systematically... We should read as a staple works that require close attention, thought, study and research, indulging in lighter classes only for mental relaxation."

And that is what I'm resolved to do. And Tony the same. I thank God for a husband that reads to learn! By God's grace, we have quite a collection of books. Books that require close attention, thought, study, and research. Those are the kinds we like. ;) Our shelves are also sprinkled with a few lighter classes {Like the works of Jane Austen, which I am currently reading for the first time. And a small collection of some childhood favorites, namely the Berenstain Bears, American Girls, and Boxcar Children}.

"There are great books enough to occupy us during all our short and busy years; and if we are wise, we will resolutely avoid all but the richest and the best. As one has written, “We need to be reminded every day how many are the books of inimitable glory which, with all our eagerness after reading, we have never taken in our hands. It will astonish most of us to find how much of our industry is given to the books which leave no mark – how often we rake in the litter of the printing press while a crown of gold and rubies is offered us in vain.”"