My earliest memories of literature are of my parents reading to me every night before I went to bed. When I was very young I can remember trying to find the longest story I could so as to avoid going to bed just a little bit longer. My favorite stories as I got a little older were by Roald Dahl. It was shortly after my parents started reading his stories to me that I began to read them for myself. I still enjoy Roald Dahl’s works today as I find even more hidden humor in them as I am older now.
For the most part I enjoy reading books that cross between theology and history. I discovered a real interest for church history, particularly revivals of the past century starting with the holiness movement, while in high school. One of the most exciting pieces I’ve read is titled “The Power of Faith” and is a compilation of sermons delivered by Smith Wigglesworth. Before that I had a very large interest in the fictional works of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. I read more than just their most popular works such as the Chronicles of Narnia and the Lord of the Rings. The Silmarilion by Tolkien, remains one of my favorite books still today.
The most significant text I’ve ever read apart from the Bible is “The Celebration of Discipline”. I’ve never taken so long to read a book I loved so much. I found it incredibly thought provoking and challenging and could barely finish a chapter with out having to stop and mentally digest all that I was reading. It brought to light many areas of my life that previously I had thought un-useful in Christian practice.
I don’t think there is any way in which literature doesn’t matter. Many would argue the ability to communicate is what sets us apart from all other life forms on earth. Literature is a means for this communication. Written words can be read silently, spoken aloud or lived out in our actions thus overflowing into all areas of life.
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I had not been familiar with Roald Dahl (so I thought) until I looked him up and saw that he wrote Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Neat.
ReplyDeleteI read a biography of Smith Wigglesworth once, but I don't think I've read any of his sermons. Could you share one with me?
I read Tolkien (and Lewis to a lesser extent) a lot. Very significant to me.
Also, the approach to the spiritual life that Richard Foster describes is very important to me; I aim to make it a way of life, though I'm not as disciplined as I hope to become. It seems to me that this idea you gave is influenced by his kind of thinking: "Written words can be read silently, spoken aloud or lived out in our actions thus overflowing into all areas of life."
PS You should turn off "comment verification" so it will be easier for people to comment on your posts.
"When I was very young I can remember trying to find the longest story I could so as to avoid going to bed just a little bit longer", glad to know I wasn't the only one. I would convince my father read me bible stories until I fell asleep. Eventually, it got to the point were he ended up falling asleep reading to me.
ReplyDelete"I find even more hidden humor in them as I am older now." I love when this happens with books and movies that I enjoyed as a child. I find this occurs most frequently when I watch Veggietales.
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