I just finished reading Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller a few days ago. It was really an incredible book. Not because it was well-researched and thought out like some other books I've read, but because it was real. The author was simply sharing his walk, his experiences, his life. It was more like a journal than a structured book. I started thinking about a lot of different things. How have I hurt people by being judgmental? How have I missed out on others by being selfish and wanting to stay alone? But those could be other blogs. This one is about how amazing people are. God created us to be sooo different. I read a book, and I want to share it with others. I am inspired, sometimes convicted, sometimes encouraged. But some people, many people, aren't like that. My husband's not like that. He doesn't generally sit down and read a book for the simple pleasure of it. And he certainly doesn't scarf them down like I do. Does that sound like a funny term for reading a book? That's the best way I can describe it. I read fairly quickly. The better written, the more interesting, the faster I read. But the thing is, I don't just read a book, put it aside, and grab another. I digest it. I mull it over. I listen to what I should be learning from it. And I can learn a lot from books others may think are worthless. Not because I'm better or deeper. Perhaps because I have more to learn. But probably just because that's how God made me. And that brings me back to my topic. There are many people out there who might read books like I do. But there are a ton more who don't. So, what inspires you? What has God given you that makes you ask questions? That makes you think about life? What do you need to remind you Who God really is? People? Art? Music? Nature? Cooking? Creating?
It's interesting to think about. Sometimes when people tell me they don't read much or read at all, I have a brief moment of thinking, "Are you insane? How can you not read?" But then I have to remind myself that everyone is not like me. Well, no one is like me. :) Good thing. And that is actually what makes life fun. Seeing what makes other people tick. But, that gives me pause. Do I accept others who don't value books as much as I do? Do other people accept me even if my nose is generally in a book? Hmmm, I guess that should go in another blog. :)
I love books. I'm not a "classic" snob. I might even timidly admit I don't really care for the Bronte sisters. Not that they couldn't write. Just that it doesn't interest me. But I'm not sure I could fill out a form about what I do like. In the last few weeks I have read fantasy, Christian non-fiction, different fantasy, different Christian non-fiction, and I just finished another completely different series of books. Eclectic? Yeah. My music is that way, too. Movies a bit as well. I don't like reading the same genre of book for very long. Of course, my "very long" is a few weeks, if that.
I used to read books just to escape. I will admit I still do that on occasion. But mostly I read to learn and to grow and be challenged by new ideas. And because I couldn't imagine not reading.
