My escape from stagnation's grip
I recently wrote about writing.
I made a living writing for 26 years. I missed it enough to start writing again here.
I admitted to being a lazy writer now and offered a few reasons why I don’t take a lot of time elevating my writing.
I said other things have captured my time, including this:
Oh, and I read too. I love to read good writing more than I love to write good writing because it takes less time and effort and I tend to appreciate someone else’s writing more than mine.
I read.
I suppose I would be classified as an “avid” reader, although I know several people who read much more than I do.
But I am enthusiastic about reading. I enjoy sinking into something interesting. It doesn’t need to be lengthy. In fact, 10-20 minutes for a piece may be my sweet spot.
I thought about this more than once over the last couple of weeks when I was part of two different discussions, but both were centered on spiritual stagnation.
We all have those seasons. Sometimes we have a stagnant week. Sometimes we have a stagnant month or longer. We get stuck and find it hard to get going again.
I’ve found this to be true for me: Reading helps me get out of those stagnant seasons more than any single thing. Further, it may not be impossible, but it is extremely hard to break free from those stagnant seasons without reading.
The New World didn’t come to Columbus. He discovered it by being active. The blueprint for western expansion in the United States didn’t come as a result of inactivity. Lewis and Clark traveled 7,000 miles and came back with maps, journals, and intelligence that provided the framework.
These men explored.
Reading can certainly be a fun way to clear the mind, but it is primarily an exploration of insight.
I may read 35 articles or stories that don’t move my needle, but that 36th article may cause me to look at something from a new perspective for the first time in my life. It happened to me just last week.
I may read my Bible for several weeks without a “Eureka!” moment. However, when faithful over time, God will use His perfect timing to illuminate something fresh through the reading of His word that may not have come another way.
I can remember the first book I ever read. It was titled “The Firefly” or something similar. I tried to look it up but couldn’t trace a book with that title back to at least 1975. Since then, I’ve been a reader.
Most people my age or older profess a love of the printed page. I’ve never really had a problem with any format. It’s the words that matter, not the configuration. Give me a hardcover, a paperback, a phone, or a Kindle. I’m fine with whatever.
I’ve heard many people say, “I’m not much of a reader.” I understand what they mean. They may not have the love for reading that an avid reader has.
My advice would be to develop reading as a discipline if it’s not a love. Who knows? Maybe it will turn into love.
It’s hard to discover new ground otherwise.
One Note
I’ve written about intellectuals converting to Christianity. Then I added a new conversion story from Larry Sanger.
Now we can add another one to the list. Giles Coren, a writer for the Times of London, is now on board.