Read for God's Sake!

I am a reader. I absolutely love reading. I read all the time. Most nights it is very difficult for me to finally stop reading to go to sleep. That wise sage Dr. Seuss once wrote, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” I whole heartedly agree. Danielle also loves to read, granted we read very different kinds of books. She absolutely loves a good murder mystery. In our love for reading, we are modeling this literate lifestyle for our kids. Each Monday we go to the children’s section at the Carnegie Library and pick out around 30 children’s books for the week to read with the kids at naptime and bedtime. Now that Wyatt is able to read on his own, we keep finding him behind the recliner in the living room sneaking in a few pages of a book before dinner and he reads on his own for fifteen minutes every night after we are finished reading with him. It just warms my heart to see him devouring book after book.

In regard to reading to children, the organization “Reading is Fundamental” writes, “Reading books aloud to children stimulates their imagination and expands their understanding of the world. It helps them develop language and listening skills and prepares them to understand the written word. When the rhythm and melody of language become a part of a child's life, learning to read will be as natural as learning to walk and talk.”

Too many families do not read with their kids. It is so sad to me. Sometimes, though, the problem is much deeper than just not making the time to read with your child. Sometimes the problem is that the adults in the house can’t read either.

There is quite a connection, actually, between being an avid reader and being Presbyterian. That doesn’t mean that if you don’t care for reading that you don’t fit in this church. There is simply a connection that is undeniable. Presbyterians and other Reformed Christians have emphasized literacy since the 1500’s. While the dominant church in Europe had no problem, and may have even preferred, keeping the general populace ignorant and illiterate, John Calvin set to educating the population of the Swiss city of Geneva where he was reforming the church. He believed that willful ignorance was an affront to God as was allowing others to remain that way. Also, he and other reformers believed that each person should be able to read the Scriptures themselves (that was one of the controversial hallmarks of the Protestant Reformation).

Well, it is hard to read the Scriptures if you can’t read. So there was a very high literacy rate in Calvin’s Geneva. Teaching people to read was seen by the Presbyterians as a spiritual work, an act of discipleship. The same thing happened when the Presbyterians took the reins in Scotland. Europe’s most backward nation became a bastion of education and literacy. Presbyterians have been very influential over the centuries in the United States as well through advocating for better public education. One of the reasons that it is very rare to find Presbyterian schools below the college level is that Presbyterians, traditionally, put our efforts into providing better education for all, not just for the privileged few who can afford to go to a private church school.

I was so proud of the congregation I served in Newkirk, Oklahoma, when one year they devoted the entire week prior to the beginning of school in August to holding a “Reading Camp” for any child in the community who wanted to come. We had about 40 kids show up every day to read one-on-one for hours with a church member. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever seen a congregation do—and it wasn't my idea. That came from the congregation and they saw it as an act of discipleship.

Charles William Eliot once said, “Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.” I have found that to be true in my own experience. Pretty much everything I’ve been reading lately is in some way connected to my pastoral work. I haven’t read any novels lately, and I need to free myself up to do that. But I wanted to share with you the books I’ve read over the past month and then one quote from each book without comment.

The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything by James Martin, SJ

“The maxim of ‘illusory religion’ is as follows: ‘Fear not; trust in God and He will see that none of the things you fear will happen to you.’ ‘Real religion,’ said Macmurray, has a different maxim: ‘Fear not; the things you are afraid of are quite likely to happen to you, but they are nothing to be afraid of.’”

The Sacred Wilderness of Pastoral Ministry by David Rohrer

“Our [pastoral] office calls us to the simple act of giving off the scent of Jesus (2 Cor 2:15-16) as we live among a particular people at a particular time. In the course of going about this work, there will be times when the smell of Jesus makes people mad and times when their response to this scent bears the fruit of gratitude and approval.”

The Courage to Grieve by Judy Tatelbaum

“Since pain unexpressed does not dissolve spontaneously, we may suffer severe consequences from pretending to be super-human.”

The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John M. Gottman, Phd.

“In the strongest marriages, husband and wife share a deep sense of meaning. They don’t just ‘get along’—they also support each other’s hopes and aspirations and build a sense of purpose into their lives together.”

101 Things I Wish I Knew When I Got Married by Linda & Charlie Bloom

“If you can’t do something without expecting something in return, you’re probably better off not doing it at all. A marriage is not a business deal. Keeping score may work in sports and finances, but it’s folly in a relationship. Rather than keeping track of whether or not the ledger is balanced, work instead to cultivate trust and a spirit of goodwill. That which is given from a selfless intention is always rewarded.”

In a minute, click on this link: "Melody's Dream." It will take you to the "Stewardship" portion of our church website. Within that "New Fruits. Deep Roots." stewardship section click on the tab in the upper right hand corner of that window that says "Videos." Then you can watch the video entitled "Melody's Dream," which has a connection to this blog post.

Happy reading!

Grace and Peace,
Everett