by Steve Laube
I collect books. I graze through them like I’m at an all-you-can-eat buffet. I sample this tidbit and that. Eventually I get enough to eat or have found the right morsel to consume until it is finished.
It helps make me an eclectic sort. But there are days, even weeks, where I must discipline myself to become immersed in extraordinary writing. It is there where the soul can be fed and nourished.
I came across a quote from the great Charles Bridges, a well respected pastor in the Church of England whose Exposition of Psalm 119 (published 1827) is a masterpiece. A couple years later he wrote a book directed at those in the ministry. But I thought it applicable to everyone who reads. Especially in our modern era of content consumption without digestion.
Some again need discretion in the direction of their study. They study books more than themselves. They lose themselves in the multiplicity of books; and find to their cost, that in reading as well as “making books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.” Bishop Wilkins observes, “There is as much art and benefit in the right choice of such books, with which we should be most familiar, as there is in the election of other friends or acquaintances, with whom we may most profitably converse.” No man can read everything; nor would our real store be increased by the capacity to do so. The digestive powers would be overloaded for want of time to act, and uncontrolled confusion would reign within. It is far more easy to furnish our library than our understanding.
May you be inspired to think about what you are reading and why you are reading it.
It comes down to that saying, “What goes into the mind, comes out in the life”.
Brother Bridges’s exhortation is all the more crucial in this age where various media bombard us with a cornucopia of material to read. No one can or should try to consume it all. Without discretion, a reader will surrender vast hours of his lifetime digesting material that amounts to little more than needless fluff. Thanks, Steve.
Timely reminder, Steve. For Lent I gave up noise, television and radio. It has been wonderful. I have found, in the silence of my drives to meetings, time to think and ponder and pray. The creativity that has come in that time has been an unexpected gift. And I have rediscovered my love of reading. I have read six or seven books since the first of the year. But like you say, not all of equal worth.
I also find it interesting that Bridges uses the word “peruse.” Meaning to read through with thoroughness or care. Is it indicative of our careless reading culture that many people now use that word to mean skim over a book or subject?
Guilty peruser, here. My biggest problem is in buying books that end up sitting on my shelf, as if by merely owning the book means I will gain whatever knowledge lies within by osmosis.
Love this quote!
Interesting thoughts. I have never understood the concept of “speed reading.” To me that practice completely defeats the purpose (and rapture) of immersing and losing oneself in an excellent book. What I have, finally, given myself permission to do is stop reading when a book isn’t excellent. There’s just too little time, and far too many great books out there (fiction and non-fiction) with valuable truths and principles I can and should be applying to my life. Thanks for reminding me of that, Steve.
Isaiah 28:10 summarizes what you’ve said
“For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.”
Leanring and knowledge are not infused, but digested.
Steve, you’ve just strengthened my resolve to continue a practice I’ve recently adopted: I give myself permission to quit reading if the material isn’t either feeding my mind or my soul (or both). Whether for research or for pleasure, the work has to edify or it’s gone. The same can be said for what I save for my library.
Very good! As someone who is currently “reading” five books right now, I needed to see this!
According to my calculator, “Exposition of Psalm 119″ was written 185 years ago — and it is still being read and talked about today.
That is profound for two reasons. First is the encouragement to write timeless treasures; the second is to know that our work could out live us.
I love this post. It’s good to know that I’m not the only one who runs through books like a cow grazing in a wide field. A bit here. A chapter there. Mmm, I’m full.
I’ve never understood why people think “reading everything I can get my hands on” means they’re an intellectual. Many things in print are not edifying in the least. Far better to read things worthwhile than to read without discernment.
“…little time for weighing, for storing, or for wisely working out the treasure…” What weighty words. Thank you for sharing this, for taking the concept beyond “what we read” to “how we read.” A steady diet of sugar is just as bad as a steady “diet” of leafy greens that are only stared at on their plate, never being allowed to enter and do their work.