Reformation of Words

There’s a widespread belief in those whom I talk to that there simply is not enough time to accomplish all the things we want to accomplish.  As if God was so good in the creation of our world and the things therein, but somehow fell short in his masterpiece of time, and it’s elements somehow elude the best of us.  Yes, the moon, the galaxy and all it’s starry host prevail upon our conscience and speak to our inner man that wants to be the center of it all, but the stark reality seems to shrink us into our rightful place.  We are small for a reason; we are finite because that’s how the Lord spoke us into being.  We are limited by space and time because of the glory of God and our finitude; and this is always and forever a good thing.

No grand issues in life have made me to dwell on this today, but the simplicity of the love I have for reading.  I don’t love simply to read, I love to read good literature; something the writers of our day seem to lack in substance and clarity.  I am no exception, and though each writer wants to write the next great American novel, I have no hopes or aspirations thus; too many incredible novels have already been written.

I am at a place in my life where I love to read; in fact, it is an escape to me.  I retreat into these old letters and words and find myself sailing along the dusty thoughts of ancient explorers of emotions.  They paint to me masterpieces of every sort of color and hue I could have thought imaginable.  The truth is, they are showing me colors and things I did not even know, and for this I am indebted to them.  They are however, just a black and white façade when placed next to the very breath of God in the Holy Scriptures, but nonetheless, even newspaper comics can serve a purpose from time to time.

But I realize too, that time is precious.  What do I spend my time upon?  If I read, at times I can neglect my time in studying passages in the bible for others.  If I read, I run against spending time with my children if I don’t balance the tides well.  If I read the classics, I might get caught up in the scope and majesty of an incredible tale, and stay up later than my body would like, thus rendering my next day more hurried and haggard.

But something strikes me and I have to humble myself from the thought of it.  Yesteryear, during a time when television was not even a dream of reality, men and women would find books like the Brother’s Grimm fairy tales like the “Glee” of our day.  They would read together, spend time next to a fire with their children, talking about the adventures of Rapunzel and Little Red Riding Hood amidst the exhaustion of life and busy work.  Now, our “time” is consumed with allowing directors and screen writers to speak to us and our families, dictating the subconscious of our children and our own lives as if they knew us or our Lord.

There needs to be a Reformation of Words where we throw down the cultural norms of our day that seem to rob us of our limited time, and excel in the graciousness of the written word.  I can claim that I am too busy for such things too; I can compare my schedule with anyone and we all can make cases for being too busy.  But it seems as though business is synonymous with laziness, and the victor of the day is our flesh.

How are you using your time today?  Rekindle and redefine what your busy day looks like, and take every action captive, not just thought, as we reflect on the infinitude of our God and the wonderful time He has given us to live for His glory.  Yes, even reading the classics has it’s purpose, but all must be done in submission to the Word of God.

Oh, but have you read “Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens?  Have you read “Moby Dick” by Herman Mellville?  Have you read “Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne?  Have you read “Ivanhoe” by Sir Walter Scott? These are choice meals of the mind in the midst of so much regurgitation for our eyes.

Ha, not sure on the purpose of this post, but it is something I am passionate about.  Let me know your thoughts and what you are reading!  I’m not saying there isn’t good writing out there.  But more than anything, the content of what’s out there is incredible, but the writing of it is seriously lacking!