Opinion
Books which enlighten and challenge
Jane Walters has been catching up on some Christian reading, and has discovered the joys of including a good book in her daily routine.
Every summer, when packing for a holiday, I would be sure to include a book or three. However, dreams of sitting around a pool or under a tree, lost in an imaginary world, would soon evaporate in the reality of family life. For sure, day trips were enjoyed, quality time with the children appreciated, but the books would come back unread.
Fast forward several years and last July I went on my first solo holiday. It was only for a few days before joining friends in a cottage. As ever, as much out of habit as anything, I popped in a couple of books – and it wasn’t enough! (The difference that travelling alone makes!) In that one week, I read a total of four and a half books – grateful that my room in both venues had a shelf of books to choose from.
Reading has always been one of my greatest pleasures. As a child, I would regularly go to the library for my three new books, usually finishing them long before the due date. Reading offered everything I was looking for in life: chance for some peace and quiet within a large family, escape from dull or difficult circumstances, a stimulus for imagination and a means of discovery. Years later, my niece asked me, ‘Aunty Jane, is it true that when you were younger Mummy did all the work while you just sat and read?’ To my shame, I think it is!
Recently, I’ve adapted my morning breakfast routine to include reading a Christian book. It’s my way of setting the tone for the day and it’s giving me chance to explore some titles that I’ve neglected for far too long. Just lately, these have included Through Gates of Splendour by Elisabeth Eliot, recounting the attempt of four young Americans to bring the gospel to a savage tribe in Ecuador, which challenged me greatly over how fully I’ve really surrendered my life to Christ. Another is the classic What’s so Amazing about Grace? by Yancey, reminding me how the world needs to receive love, forgiveness and kindness when so much of life is about blame and punishment. My current read is The God of All Things by Andrew Wilson, which highlights the way God uses ordinary objects and the world around us to reveal Himself to us.
Can I encourage you this summer to dust off those books you’ve been meaning to get around to? Whether on holiday or not, it’s a great way to relax while stretching your imagination and expanding your vision, perhaps sowing seeds for a future time.
The above image is courtesy of pixabay.com.
Jane Walters, formerly Clamp, is the author of Too Soon, a mother’s journey through miscarriage (SPCK) and a regular contributor to Premier Radio and UCB. She is also vice-chair of the Association of Christian Writers. Jane leads creative writing retreats and is a popular speaker locally and further afield. Visit: janewyattwalters.com
The views carried here are those of the author, not of Network Norfolk, and are intended to stimulate constructive debate between website users.