To read is to take on wings and travel over places, eras,
ideas, concepts, nationalities, and cultural barriers. We fly as close to the
subject as the author allows - and no closer. Flight is a fantastic and useful
phenomenon so long as you maintain a horizontal flight pattern with the desired
direction. So it is with the reading of humanly inspired writings.
It has been said that a person’s growth and maturing process
relies heavily upon three basic elements consisting of what a person
experiences, what a person retains in their memory, and what a person reads. In
today’s world of fast-pace living, smartphones and TV, this thought is no
longer accurate. The concept is, however, still correct in assuming that we are
influenced greatly by media, memory, and experience. Furthermore, although reading is no longer the primary way
that the majority of people collect information and seek entertainment, our
reading materials are as proportionally important now in influencing our
thought patterns as were the books of our preceding fathers.
Let us for a short time consider the options we have in our
selection of publications to read.
Primarily, we have fiction and non-fiction. Some would argue that non-fictional books
out-class that of fiction due to the assumption that such reading materials
consist of factual information. Others might argue that fiction is more imaginative,
more enjoyable, and in being selective, they gain much insight by reading
fictional stories. Non-fiction is, after all, written by humans. Thus, it is
also slanted information written to persuade you of the author’s agenda, hidden
or otherwise.
I am not in this blog taking either opinion as my own. I
only want to bring out that the reading materials that we choose should be of
quality.
If you enjoy fiction, read literature of interpretation over
escape literature. The mind is a terrible thing to waste. It is a terrific
thing to engage. Rather than escaping from reality, use your imagination to
travel deeper into the real world in which we live. The image that fiction
presents is purged of the time-space factor, distractions and the accidents of
ordinary life. We are at liberty to gaze at the inner logic of things-of a
personality, of the consequences of an act or a thought, of a social or historical
situation. Thereby, you can gain
valuable understanding and insight. By reading fiction, we leave the world of
actuality. However, if it is good fiction and we are good readers, the story
will in a roundabout way return us to the world and to ourselves. Wholesome
literary works reconcile us with reality. It reiterates our convictions and
challenges our behaviors while removing us from the circumstances of normality.
John Dewey worded it by saying that it should take “life and experience in all
its uncertainties, mystery, doubt and half-knowledge and turn that experience
upon itself to deepen and intensify its own qualities.”
Do you prefer non-fiction? Wonderful! Let your reading orbit
your goals. We would all agree that there is much refuse to be found in the
“factual” realm as well. Before reading the book, scan it to see what agenda
the author has, what is his/her world view, etc. While reading, ask yourself if
the reasoning therein is sound, is it
biblically correct, what are the principles it is trying to convey and how can
they be applied?! Passive reading is a contented lion’s stomach-a meal easily snared. Actively apply your mind to the subject
matter. If the subject matter is not worth knowing, put the tome down.
Otherwise, digest the materials in such a way that you can filter the venerated
information apart from the drivel. To
put it in common and somewhat abstract language, enjoy the Porterhouse steak
while disposing of the gristle (preferablly before you chew it). J
I digress. We are truly privileged to have the ability to
decipher crude markings upon paper that we might gain a lifetime of knowledge
and wisdom from them. I would simply like to encourage you over the next year
to not only think on, but also to read “whatsoever things are true, whatsoever
things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever
things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any
virtue, and if there be any praise,” read these publications.
