RELIGION —
Books have been important to me. I blame my mama for that. She read fairytales to me when I was a little boy. Before I could read or write, I knew all about “Jack and the Beanstalk,” “Snow White” and “Little Red Riding Hood.”
Television was not available during my childhood. We did have a radio but it seldom worked well — too much static. But mama brought excitement into my young mind by reading the stories of “Hansel and Gretel” and the “Three Little Pigs.” Later, I made that a family tradition by read those same tales to my own children. No child should have to grow up without getting acquainted with “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” and “Billy Goat Gruff.” Mama must have known that listening to fairy tales will jump start God’s gift of imagination.
Mama did not stop with fairy tales. She made sure my siblings and I became acquainted with “Aesop’s Fables.” I did not know who Aesop was but I knew about the “Lion and the Mouse,” the “Fox and the Crow” and the “Boy Who Cried Wolf.”
In grammar school I fell in love with the school library. It introduced me to my first hero whose name was Tarzan.
In college and seminary, the library was my second home. I loved to find a secluded place behind the towering stacks of books and get lost in a good book. I could concentrate better in the silence; studying in the midst of noise has always been difficult for me.
During years of pastoral ministry, my reading consisted mostly of the Bible and books that helped me understand how to preach and grow a church. I found great help in reading C. S. Lewis, Elton Trueblood, N. T. Wright and my favorite of the Classics — “The Imitation of Christ” by Thomas a Kempis.
At age 70, I discovered Stephen Ambrose. No one should die without having read Ambrose’s “Undaunted Courage” and “Band of Brothers.” Since my first retirement, I have enjoyed getting to know George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Winston Churchill, Douglas MacArthur, Martin Luther King Jr., Jimmy Carter and others. I love biographies, especially those written by David McCullough.
In recent days, my soul has been stirred by reading these excellent books:
“Every Holy Moment” by Douglas Kaine McKelvey — a delightful collection of liturgies for every occasion, including one titled “Before Beginning a Book,” and another “Lament upon the Finishing of a Beloved Book.”
“The Return of the Prodigal Son” by Henri Nouwen — My third reading.
“Living in Christ’s Presence” by Dallas Willard — Inspiring observations about heaven and splendid insights about living in the Kingdom.
“Resilient” by John Eldredge — practical ways to strengthen weary souls.
“Heaven” by Randy Alcorn — The best book available on this subject.
“An Amazing Alabama” by Karl Stegall — Delightful book about my home state written by a good friend.
“A Promise Kept” by Robertson McQuilkin — suffering could not put out the fire to this man’s devotion to his wife.
“New Morning Mercies” by Paul David Tripp — The finest devotional book I have come across since “My Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers.
Garrison Keillor said, “A book is a gift you can open again and again.” I agree. So any day is a good day to read a good book — or to give someone a good book to read. What a great blessing — the gift of reading.