A Blog Break From Work

Well, long-time-no-blog. It’s nice to type some words here again after a three-week hiatus. What happens is I get so busy at work during this time of the year that several other activities start to move to the background, including this blog. But I want to make sure I maintain balance in life.

I have had a couple of good conversations with friends in the past few days about how much emphasis we put in our work. I want to be excellent in my job, because I think (1) it honors God, (2) it maintains my integrity with co-workers and acquaintances, (3) it helps others do their job better and (4) I like performing well when I have the ability. I need to make sure, however, that I do not put too much value in my work so that I don’t allow myself to love and serve my church, my family and my friends. It can be especially difficult for me sometimes, because I work in the sports world, which I love so much. It’s easy for me to stay in the office until 1 a.m. sometimes (like the last two nights working on the soccer media guide), because I enjoy it. And while I am grateful that I love my job, I also understand that my identity is not defined by my career. I am first and foremost a child of the living God, redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ from a depraved condition (that leads to death) to abundant life (that leads to paradise forever). Secondly, I am an ambassador of Christ, called to love my neighbor and let people know how great is the one true God. Also, I am a son of my parents, a brother, a grandson, a cousin, a nephew and a friend to many people. As you can see, being an employee is definitely a part of my identity, but it’s way down the list.

The problem is, sometimes I forget how much value should be placed in some of these roles ahead of my occupation. Honestly, I spend the majority of my time at my job, so it’s only natural that I spend most of my time and effort on that. I write a lot more press releases than notes to my grandpa or aunts. What I must remember is that even while I work, it’s the relationships that matter most. Material things fade away, but relationships last much longer. And a relationship with the eternal God is what truly lasts forever. My priorities should reflect this order of the endurance of things.

Therefore, in a spirit of balance and prioritization, I will try to maintain this blog a little more regularly and work 16-hour days in the office a little less often. ‘Til then, may our days be filled with purpose and joy.

When You Need Chicken on Sunday...

Maybe it’s because I passed by a half a dozen of them while driving in Atlanta (for vacation) today, or maybe it’s because the new store in Oxford (where I live) is taking shape and looks ready to open soon, but I just cannot stop thinking about Chick-fil-A. As I blogged briefly back on June 2, the innovative chicken sandwich creators continue to astound me with their excellence and maintain what I think is the king (and queen and emperor, czar, president, etc.) of fast food chains.

So I visited their Web site. After browsing awhile, I ended up on the page about why Chick-fil-A is not opened on Sundays. And that’s where I learned a profound life lesson - a spiritual truth, in fact, that I had not previously fully understood. Sometimes you find the deepest profundity in the most unexpected places.

You see, Chick-fil-A is not only closed on Sundays because the owners have a strong Christian foundation that demands a respect for the Sabbath, but it’s closed because it’s good for business. And it’s good for the employees. And it’s good for their families. The incredible truth about why Chick-fil-A does not serve food one day out of the week is much more than allowing its workers to go to church, although that is indeed a high priority. The reality is that we as humans are more productive on the other six days of the week when we spend one day resting and reflecting on our creator God. He set it up that way. He even modeled it for us when he formed the heavens and the earth, and everything that is in them, and called it good, and rested for a day. It only makes sense. Who can be on the go, go, go constantly and not be exhausted when the rubber meets the road? Who out there does not have to sleep and relax at some point in order not to go completely insane? I haven’t met the person yet.

I believe that because the Lord God designed a plan for effective labor, it is probably a good one. If we can truly appreciate the value of rest, then we will much better be able to appreciate the more obvious value of hard work. We must not abuse it. We must not be slothful or wallow in sin or waste away hours in pointless pleasures. I am guilty of it, we all are. But if we can have true rest, the kind that is focused on Christ’s goodness and his love for us, and the kind that refreshes our mind and heart by its peacefulness, and the kind that is a grateful reflection on such blessings as we receive with every breath and bite of food and drink of water, then our work days will be richer, more productive, more enjoyable, and generally better in most every way.

Chick-fil-A, in at least one way, gets this. And to salute the corporation, I think I will eat there at least six times a week when the Oxford location opens. Maybe I can get a coupon or something for when my wallet starts rejecting the multitude of visits, though.

Today is the Day

Good morning world!

Today is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Let the sun shine bright on your face, open up your imagination to the great possibilities of the day, and run after righteousness today. Do not let the schemes of the devil or the temptations of your flesh overtake you. For nothing can separate us from the unwavering, unconditional, endless love of Christ our Savior. Have a great day!

Faster than a Speeding Bullet

I realize there are many people out there for whom the MLB All-Star Game has very little appeal. However, as a lifelong baseball fan, I still find myself enthralled like a little kid when the best players in the world get together for a game that highlights much of what is best about our great National Pastime. In addition to the tear-jerking tribute to the “All-Stars Among Us,” I loved watching Carl Crawford play.

You see, fast runners excite me every time. In the realm of sports, there is no aspect of athleticism that sparks the childlike emotion of wonder in me more than foot-speed. Crawford may be the fastest player in the majors right now. And he knows a thing or two about over-the-wall catches.

In light of this, today’s J.W. List highlights some of the greatest speedsters in baseball history. (Note that it’s not necessarily the best base-stealers, but the fastest runners. Therefore, some names could potentially surprise you. For the most dedicated baseball fans, this could be a fun trip down memory lane.)

Don’t Blink:

1920s/30s
- Cool Papa Bell (St. Louis Stars, Kansas City Monarchs, Pittsburgh Crawfords, Homestead Grays) Considered by many the fastest baseball player ever

1940s/50s
- Jackie Robinson (Kansas City Monarchs, Brooklyn Dodgers)

1960s
- Maury Wills (Los Angeles Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Montreal Expos)
- Luis Aparicio (Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox)

1970s
- Lou Brock (St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs)
- Cesar Cedeño (Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers)
- Davey Lopes (Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland A’s, Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros)

1980s
- Vince Coleman (St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers)
- Juan Samuel (Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Toronto Blue Jays
- Willie Wilson (Kansas City Royals, Oakland A’s, Chicago Cubs)
- Eric Davis (Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers, Detroit Tigers, Baltimore Orioles, St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants)

1990s
- Deion Sanders (Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees)
- Tom Goodwin (Los Angeles Dodgers, Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers, Colorado Rockies, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs)
- Otis Nixon (Atlanta Braves, 8 others)
- Brian L. Hunter (Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers, Seattle Mariners, Colorado Rockies, Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies)
- Tony Womack (Pittsburgh Pirates, Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds)
- Steve Finley (Houston Astros, San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants, Colorado Rockies)
- Kenny Lofton (Cleveland Indians, 10 others)
- Lance Johnson (Chicago White Sox, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees)

2000s
- Carl Crawford (Tampa Bay Rays)
- Juan Pierre (Colorado Rockies, Florida Marlins, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers)
- Jose Reyes (New York Mets)
- Ichiro Suzuki (Seattle Mariners)
- Willy Taveras (Houston Astros, Colorado Rockies, Cincinnati Reds)
- Roger Cedeño (New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Cardinals)

“All of History Marches Forward …

to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.” This is a phrase often repeated by my pastor during his Sunday sermons. It’s a great way to think about the eternal purposes of God throughout the history of mankind and His intimate relationship with His people. A mighty celebration to top all earthly bashes is awaiting those who are brought into everlasting life by the Lord.

Two weddings over the last month in which I had the privilege of being a participant have stirred my thoughts on this topic. At the risk of embarrassing Patrick and Sarah and Chris and Deanna, I must say that I have four friends who represent the best I can imagine among earthly relationships. All four of them love the Lord and sacrifice many aspects of their individual lives to serve so many people around them. And on top of their faith and generosity, they are couples who have such a deep, romantic, committed love for each other that I think represents what a marriage should be like.

These weddings, indeed these two marriages, are such a great example of a man and woman committed to giving up their own lives for the good of the other. However, they are only a picture, a shadow, of the love of Christ for His bride, the church. The very begotten son of God underwent pain, suffering, and death to rescue His beloved. That’s why I can’t wait for this heavenly marriage supper, because if it’s that much better than the two celebrations I’ve recently experienced with my great friends, then I am in a place of unmatched blessing. I can’t even begin to wrap my head around how great a banquet it will be.

Oh, the Joys of the Social Media Explosion

You know, for being someone who waited as long as possible until he was essentially required to own a cell phone, I am actually quite stunned by the following: I have a blog. I have a facebook page. And as of today, I tweet. (Side note: I really humor myself by considering what kind of looks one might have received when talking about a blog, facebook, or twitter/tweet just a decade ago, much less a century ago. Images of a black fog, a student asleep on a textbook, and little yellow birds come to mind.) I wonder, is all of this a good thing?

I believe the answer (as usual) lies not so much in the things themselves (which are probably inherently neutral), but in our attitude toward them and use of them. I think we would be wise to follow Paul’s advice to the Corinthians that whether we “tweet” or “blog” or “poke,” let us do it to the glory of God. My goal, as much as the Lord wills and my brothers and sisters hold me accountable, is to keep up with these forms of communication in order to (1) glorify God and enjoy him forever, (2) encourage and uplift those around me, and (3) enhance and maintain relationships among friends and family, all while not letting it bog me down or distract me from primary tasks. The second I fail to follow these guidelines, I would ask that any friend please alert me.

Meanwhile, I’m enjoying the rocket ride on the flames of the social media explosion.

Read Closely

Inspired to act or speak

With or without any idea,
Right or wrong,
Imagination soars
To Highest Heights,
Emboldened in spite of Fear.

Action demands itself.

Brandish my Sword,
Lit by hot, holy fire,
Onward to Victory,
Glorious.

Vacation Part II

Still enjoying my holiday from work. In the last eight days, I have driven through Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia - visiting family and friends in Cullman (AL), Nashville (TN), Raleigh (NC), Atlanta (GA), and Macon (GA). Whew. Strangely, I'm not tired at all from the traveling. It's actually been rather relaxing and just so energizing to connect and reconnect with so many people that are so dear to me ...

Which brings me to the following pictures of good friends and their diapered youngsters. I'm not sure what's more beautiful: the grandeur of sweeping mountain landscapes or the adorable smiles of a baby. Either way, God's creation is glorious. Praise the Lord.

Alison, baby Owen, and Andrew

baby Owen, all smiles (with Donald the Dolphin and Betsy the Cow)

Anna, baby Elizabeth Grace, and Robert

Vacation Beauty

One thing I love about vacation is the chance to step back from the everyday things of life. It's an opportunity to really enjoy some of the gifts of God's nature without most of the normal distractions and certainly without the general "routineness" of daily life. (I think I just made up a new word. If anyone knows of a real word that signifies the same idea, please let me know!)

As a native of the U.S. South (I've lived in Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi, y'all), I have been blessed to experience a little of the beauty outside the 'Ole South, including hiking trips through the mountains of New Mexico, Alberta (Canada), and Alaska, a mission trip to Moscow, Russia, and business trips to Puerto Rico, California and New York. However, there is still something intimately lovely about the Southeast - from the Smokies to the Gulf Coast, and much in between. So here are a few pictures from my trip through the Southeast so far. Hopefully more to come.

And keep in mind that these images are only a shadow of the true experience, which is only a foretaste of glory divine, for which all of creation (including us) groans with the pains of childbirth for that day when all will be made right. For more, see Romans chapter 8, Isaiah 35, and Revelation 21.






Cattle near Natural Bridge, Alabama


Railroad tracks near Waynesville, North Carolina

Moonshine Creek Campground near Waynesville, North Carolina

Lake Junaluska, North Carolina

Lake Junaluska


Lake Junaluska

Lake Junaluska

Lake Junaluska

Living in the Lap of Modern Luxury

You know, sometimes we really take for granted the modern conveniences that we have grown accustomed to having. I was just kind of warm a few minutes ago in my house, so I walked down the hall and turned the thermostat down a couple of degrees for the air conditioner to kick on. I was hungry, so I heated up some peas in the microwave and warmed up some fish in the oven – and in about 15 minutes, I was eating my meal. I wondered what was happening in the world of sports, so I turned on my satellite television to find my favorite baseball team, the Atlanta Braves, playing extra innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Then I decided to hop on the computer and check my electronic mail (via a cable internet connection wirelessly transmitted to my laptop).

And that’s when it hit me: I really have more than I could ever need or want materially. And I have almost all of it at my fingertips, needing just the click of a button to accomplish the most complex of modern tasks. I don’t usually give a second thought to the kind of luxury I live in even as a middle-class American. We (Americans and others in highly developed nations) are downright spoiled.

I daresay that if a man or woman from the 18th century were somehow transported into a medium-sized town of middle America in 2009, they would hardly recognize anything that looked similar to their life in the 1700s. Some of the person’s immediate thoughts might be: (1) To where are all these people going in such a hurry? (2) If this mechanical carriage goes any faster, I think I’ll vomit, and how do the drivers not constantly crash into one another? (3) There seems to be so many public eating houses, I wonder if anyone dines with their family at home. (4) I am seeing so many grocery markets, but not many farms to grow the produce. (5) Most people seem to live in absolute palaces – I wonder if they are members of the royal family. (6) Why are everyone’s children acting like little heathens? Shouldn’t the parents be whipping them instead of laughing? (7) All this noise and activity is making my head spin. I think I should lie down.

So next time you toss some bread in the toaster, or clothes in the dryer, or dishes in the dishwasher, or next time you hop in your car for a quick trip across town to get batteries for your TV remote, try to stop for half a second and consider that you’re still one of the first people in the thousands of years of the human race to have such luxuries at your instant disposal. Sometimes I wonder whether it’s a blessing or a curse.

Chick-fil-A

I was just thinking ... Chick-fil-A is amazing. Great food. Great business. Great marketing. All based on biblical, Christ-centered values. What more could we ask for?

Red, White, and Blue

Sitting here between Memorial Day and July the Fourth, I’m feeling just a little more patriotic than usual. Therefore, today’s J.W. List will honor some of my favorite things Red, White, and Blue.

Favorite Red stuff:
- A plump, juicy Red Delicious apple
- The sun right before it dips below the horizon on a cloudless day
- Christ’s blood shed on the Cross
- A cardinal strutting and chirping in the springtime
- An autumn maple leaf
- My proofreading pen
- Georgia Bulldogs, Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Falcons, Ole Miss Rebels

Favorite White stuff:
- A blanket of snow on top of a mountain
- The soft hair of a Maltese puppy
- Gandalf’s beard
- A Rick Pitino Louisville game suit
- Marshmallows
- A powerful lightning bolt in a summer storm
- A blank sheet of paper ready for a new chapter

Favorite Blue stuff:
- The ocean
- The sky
- Smurfs
- The color of the Smoky Mountain haze
- The hot base of a flame
- Cameron Crazies
- Atlanta Braves, Ole Miss Rebels

Wise Words from a Humble Man

We sang the hymn “Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken” in church this morning, and even though I had sung it before, the words really hit me today. They are not only beautiful, but there is profound truth woven throughout the verses. It captured me so much that I decided to look up the song’s author, Henry F. Lyte. What I found is that he was born in Scotland in 1793, moved with his family to Ireland because of war between Britain and France, and was soon abandoned by his father and left orphaned at the age of nine when his mother died. He went on to become an Anglican pastor, successful poet, and hymnologist despite battling tuberculosis for most of his life up to his death at age 54.

Knowing Lyte’s background has made the words of this song that much more poignant. His humble attitude drove him to surrender to Christ, and this faith produced great endurance in a clearly difficult life, all leading to a bright, victorious hope of future glory. The last verse is especially amazing!

Jesus, I my cross have taken, all to leave and follow Thee.
Destitute, despised, forsaken, Thou from hence my all shall be.
Perish every fond ambition, all I’ve sought or hoped or known.
Yet how rich is my condition! God and heaven are still my own.

Let the world despise and leave me, they have left my Savior, too.
Human hearts and looks deceive me; Thou art not, like them, untrue.
O while Thou dost smile upon me, God of wisdom, love, and might,
Foes may hate and friends disown me, show Thy face and all is bright.

Man may trouble and distress me, ‘twill but drive me to Thy breast.
Life with trials hard may press me; Heaven will bring me sweeter rest.
Oh, ‘tis not in grief to harm me while Thy love is left to me;
Oh, ‘twere not in joy to charm me, were that joy unmixed with Thee.

Go, then, earthly fame and treasure! Come disaster, scorn and pain!
In Thy service, pain is pleasure; with Thy favor, loss is gain.
I have called Thee Abba Father; I have stayed my heart on Thee:
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather; All must work for good to me.

Soul, then know thy full salvation rise o’er sin and fear and care;
Joy to find in every station, something still to do or bear.
Think what Spirit dwells within thee, think what Father’s smiles are thine;
Think that Jesus died to win thee, child of heaven, canst thou repine?

Haste thee on from grace to glory, armed by faith, and winged by prayer.
Heaven’s eternal days before thee, God’s own hand shall guide us there.
Soon shall close thy earthly mission, soon shall pass thy pilgrim days,
Hope shall change to glad fruition, faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

A Moose Encounter

While hiking in Alaska’s Denali National Park last summer, my two friends and I were strolling along one of the few trails (most of the park is trail-less, meaning it’s just you, the mountains, and the bears – very fun!) and we turned a corner and … there was a huge statue of a moose. I thought it was odd that there would be a statue in the middle of a trail, and then it moved. It was a real moose! That’s not something you see very often in Mississippi, so it kind of took me by surprise. Even better, it was a mama moose with her calf. Well, it was awesome and breathtaking until her maternal instincts kicked in and we were suddenly the enemies. After she made a couple of small charges at us, we decided it was best to continue around (in a wide circle) the pair of moose.

But not before we got a short video taken by accident as we were fumbling around with cameras, nerves, and adrenaline. You may not be able to tell, but the adult moose was HUGE – bigger than a Clydesdale horse.

And some pictures:

Made for Another World

C.S. Lewis poetically captured in his masterpiece, Mere Christianity, “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”

As much as I love this world (too much most of the time) and the great things that God created in it, I am increasingly becoming aware of this longing deep within my spirit for something more. Something better. Something more alive, brighter, more fulfilling, indeed something even more real than what I am currently able to touch, taste, hear, smell, and see. Oh, for heaven and a life together with God himself!

In his own philosophical, poetic, fantastical way, Lewis wrote on the subject of heaven, earth, and hell in many of his books, most especially The Great Divorce, which is a must-read for anyone interested in the topic. I think he gave a fresh perspective on the timeless truths of the Bible that tell us that we are most certainly to live in this world, but not to be of this world (John 17:11,16) and that the present earth is only our temporary home, whereas the eternal destiny of God’s children is with him in paradise (Hebrews 11:13-16, 2 Corinthians 5:1-2, Revelation). On the other hand, those who are not in Christ or of God are destined for eternal separation from Him in hell (1 Thessalonians 1:8-9, Matthew 25:41).

New Zealander Brooke Fraser beautifully puts to music some of these thoughts in her "C.S. Lewis Song":

Slowing Down in a High-Speed World

We are all aware that we live in a time when life moves faster than at any other period in the history of our world. The internet has revolutionized the way people communicate, do business, and shop, having sped up and “progressed” basically every aspect of life. Other relatively recent inventions like the high-speed automobile, refrigerators, microwaves and televisions have also altered the course of history.

What I often ask myself, when I have a few spare seconds during my hurried schedule, is what happened to the old ideals of resting, taking things at a more gradual pace, being patient – slowing down? It seems that the ambitious drive, the ethic of hard work that makes America what it is, has perhaps driven itself into rather an extreme state. People (like myself sometimes, unfortunately) hurry from one activity to the next without breaking for a second. The most important thing in life seems to be whatever is the next activity – the next project at work, the next big trip, the next TV show coming on, the next phone call to make, the next twitter update, and on and on …

With all of this in mind, I would suggest that slowing down and resting (in a healthy way) are actually quality activities, and even ones that are recommended/commanded by the very word of God. Even the Creator of the Universe, after six days of strenuous creative labor, took a seventh day to sit back and enjoy his work – to reflect and to rest! I believe that His is a good example to follow. Indeed, work should be our main priority. About six out of seven days (roughly 85 percent of a given week) is to be spent working. But that leaves 15 percent to be used in healthy rest.

What is healthy rest? I believe it starts with a reflective mind and heart fixed on Jesus Christ that will compel someone to thanksgiving, prayer, worship, and even Christ-like service to our fellow man. Where it goes from there is usually up to the Holy Spirit. One of my favorite authors, George MacDonald, summarizes rest like this: “The cessation of labor affords but the necessary occasion – makes it possible, as it were – for the occupant of an outlying station in the wilderness to return to his Father’s house for fresh supplies to sustain life and energy. The worker goes home at night and returns in the morning to the labors of the field. Mere physical rest could never on its own build up the frame in such light and vigor as come through sleep. The heart and mind must rest, too, and thus be supplied for the work ahead.” The goal of healthy rest seems to be to prepare us for work. Our work will not be as efficient, cheerful or fruitful without this rest.

Can we slow down and be still in this high-speed age? Are there benefits to doing this? Without preparing a laundry lists of advantages and disadvantages, I will simply wrap up this blog entry with an excerpt from my journal. I won’t normally do this, but this excerpt from April 20, 2008, seems particularly appropriate.

It’s amazing how much one can observe – things that normally go completely unnoticed – when simply sitting still outside on a bright, sunny day. Birds chirping in communion with one another, a bee lighting on a fully-loaded yellow flower, the rhythmic brushes of a friendly breeze, that still ever quiet voice telling you everything will end up good despite how bad it may seem. I just wonder, how much of God’s beauty do I miss by keeping myself in such constant motion? Because when I am still before Him, I can actually hear Him. Maybe not in an audible voice, but in a slow, sublime way He reaches down into the depths of my soul and captures my attention, like for the first time, and reminds me of His beauty and His creative power, and of the unrelenting hold that His love has on me, of the truth that He is in control of everything, and that His word will never return to him void, to the point where I am utterly compelled to rejoice of His greatness and bow before Him in humble adoration while being renewed in my spirit the desire to sing and proclaim of His great glory to the end of the earth. Oh what majesty of God is revealed through simple quietness!

Musical Favorites

Most people who know me know that I like to create various lists about stuff – whether it’s a to-do list or a collection of favorites just for my own amusement. I plan to make this a semi-regular activity on the blog, and who knows, maybe it will even provide some benefit and/or entertainment for whoever stumbles across the list …

Today’s J.W. List – Some favorites from the world of music:

Favorite lyricist: Derek Webb
Favorite movie soundtrack composer: John Williams
Favorite singer I’ve recently discovered: Brooke Fraser
Favorite rapper turned folk singer-songwriter: Lauryn Hill
Favorite hymn to sing really loud: It Is Well with My Soul
Favorite instrument I wish I could play: tie, the bassoon or the hammered dulcimer
Favorite place to sing: in the shower
Favorite European band: Coldplay
Favorite female voice: Beyoncé
Favorite male voice: Brian McKnight
Favorite singer from my hometown (Macon, Georgia): Otis Redding
Favorite CD to play when I’m sleepy: anything by Allison Krauss and Union Station
Favorite CD to play when exercising: Donnie McClurkin’s “Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs (Live)”
Favorite CD by a former American Idol contestant: Carrie Underwood’s “Some Hearts”

Has Reading Become Obsolete?

Reading. It’s pretty common to see a billboard or some sort of flyer calling parents to make their children read, to teach them how to read and how to reap the benefits of that skill. But this blog post (my first in fact!) is a slightly different call.

I’m calling all the adults out there … WE NEED TO READ MORE.

I was talking with a co-worker over lunch yesterday and the topic of reading came up. I mentioned that I didn’t watch as much TV as I used to and that I actually spend a fair amount of time reading books. With a dumbfounded look on his face, my co-worker said, “Wow, I can’t remember the last time I read a book.” That got me thinking. I am sure he is not the only post-high school or post-college adult who could say that. It seems our culture, in its obsession with instant gratification, has drifted well away from the “old-fashioned” practice of reading novels for pleasure or heavy volumes for information, replacing such with a quick TV show or movie or a Google/Wikipedia search. Ha, even this blog is going to be relatively short so no one’s attention span is stretched too far.

So, why read novels or biographies or extended essays anymore? Isn’t a well-crafted movie or TV episode a better use of our precious time? Well, here are some reasons that I believe reading books is still an immensely valuable activity:

- Being able to read well benefits you in many areas of life (e.g. following detailed instructions at work, appreciating a newspaper or magazine article, sifting through important legal documents)

- Reading a novel can be a more satisfying and deeper experience than watching a movie, even a really good flick. For example, a character in a movie only has one face, one voice - that of the actor. In a book, all the characters take on whatever look or sound your mind gives to them. Use of imagination is not limited to only little children!

- Like many things in life, that which takes longer and is perhaps more difficult is often more worth the effort in the end.

- Whatever you learn from reading a whole book is probably going to sink in much deeper and be more easily remembered than a quicker version of the same lesson.

- Finishing a book gives you a really nice sense of accomplishment...especially a long one!

Anyone else have more reasons to read? Or perhaps reasons not to?