Rediscovering Reading
Of course, the source of our distractions isn’t solely based on the media and technology. There are many factors that not only affect but contribute to our lack thereof, in regards to reading consistently, and life in general. We hold significance on the things we’d rather spend time on, whether it’s intentional or not, because despite wanting to, implementing better practices, is just that, a practice, and it takes time and requires our diligence, and concentration, especially after practicing the opposite for so long.
Let’s face it, we’re all experiencing the ongoing trivialities that life brings, coming back to the very things that once reconnected us with our truest selves, our inner child, and indulging in the practices we once found so fulfilling, before we were tainted by the world, and influenced by what society pushes onto us, telling us what to do, how to live, how and who to be, and the practices we cultivate, such as reading, journaling, coloring, creating music, etc.
“One must believe in the reality of time. Otherwise one is just dreaming.”
- Simone WeilI truly believe that’s the point precisely, for, we understand ourselves in relation to time so without being intentional with our attention, and our time, we lose a sense of our true selves, as opposed to being in the ever-present now.
So how do we allow ourselves to pause when we must know everything instantly?
How do we expect to attain this concept when we are constantly expecting to respond? How do we immerse ourselves in the knowledge we’ve been exposed to, but have yet to learn when we are no longer willing to give ourselves the time to expand ourselves, to acquire, and truly reflect?
This is where our true commitment to our reading practices comes into play - because it demands that space. Whether we want to allow it or not.
By drawing us from the present moment, reading restores time to us, how ironic is that? In a fundamental way, and in a way that forces us to surrender control. Here we have the paradox, since in giving up control we somehow gain it, by interconnecting with ourselves. So can you see what we’d actually be losing? Failures to read cause us to lose life’s balance and multiple means of being able to sharpen the mind and character.
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”
― Michel LegrandIf we continuously live a life of neglecting reading, we may even lose crucial aspects of our spiritual lives, connection to wisdom, and our ability to truly connect with our essential human experience. Failing to read prevents new avenues of edification. In the process, we lose our capacity to discern the Truth, overall reading has been proven to benefit us in multiple ways. So, to think to live in a community that isn’t reading can have an effect on us all. We should passionately seek the truth, stories and lessons reading provides.
Realization is always the first step.
When we acknowledge that we no longer read as consistently as we’d like, or think we should be, we can then remember its true importance. We begin to recover from reading by nurturing those perspectives. Rather than viewing ourselves as unliterary and incapable. An obvious step toward recovery is simply to read. The more we read, the better readers we become.
We learn to read carefully, immersing ourselves in the story before us, understanding that attentive reading increases awareness. It’s already been proven that God can work through human words to bring spiritual ascension. Many of us understand and frequently notice ways that literature resonates with our faith and nurtures our spiritual lives. This makes perfect sense because there are books that convey truth predominately through the literary form. Obviously, spiritual growth can flow through literature. The Bible proves it.
Allowing ourselves to understand the lost art of reading, and how we are truly affected by reading enriches us. It brings us, as readers closer to truth, which in reality is God — being that God is truth. So to lose the gift, the ability, and the will to read is to lose it at our very great peril. So to conclude, reading is an art we cannot afford to lose; however, as long as books are printed, recovery is always within reach.
