Reading Material

While in the midst of retreat team's business last evening, the subject turned to the area of actors, actresses, movies, etc. I readily admitted that I am a total numbnut in that arena. I don't know anything about movies, can't remember them when I have seen them and generally have no interest at all in that area of life. I remember a couple that I have seen; "On Golden Pond" is the most memorable. I recall going to see the Titanic and coming out of the theatre feeling totally sick to my stomach. Reading of that tragedy is bad enough but viewing it is TMI.

I thought of how interesting it is that people have such varied areas of pleasureable recreation. When I went into my grandson's room to make his bed this morning, (yes I know, he should do that himself but that is another subject) I smiled as I picked up the book upon his bed. The boy is a good reader and enjoys that passtime for which I am grateful but for his choice of reading material; I'll pass. He is heavy into the Artemis series and as far as I can tell Artemis Fowl is a series of fantasy novels written by Irish author Eoin Colfer, starring the teenage criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl. I would be so bored, but he is captivated. The book on his bed today was, "Pearl Harbor". Yes, I chuckled a bit as it occurred to me that because he is a male and I a female, we would have different story interests. It is so male to love history and I suppose that is a good thing. I, too, enjoy history but it wouldn't be my first choice of reading material.

My reading material? Lately I have been readying fiction books based on the Amish people. Fiction is a new interest of mine. Prior to this stage in life I enjoyed biographies and books that promote spiritual growth. A casual friend of mine said she had read a particular book four times. I couldn't help but ask what that book was. To read a book twice is overkill for me, just what does this book have that this intelligent woman would read the thing four times? She told me the book is entitled, "When the Heart Waits" and the author is Sue Monk Kidd. When I asked at the book store for the book, the clerk said, "Oh, that would be in the psychology section". Well that scared me a bit. I didn't want a book to lead me astray so once the clerk located the book, I thought I should do a bit more research about the book before I allowed the material to influence my inner core. I set it neatly back in its place on the shelf. I did do my research and learned that the book is about the author's search for spiritual healing. That scared me too. There are many ways in this world that people go about a search for spiritual healing and many of them are totally anti God. I decided not to spend money on a book I wasn't sure about so I called the local library and asked if they had the book. No, but they would find it for me. About two months later, I have received the book. I'm only into about thirty pages or so but I'm finding it very interesting. So far, the author is promoting silent time in life. She talks about our tendency to move fast through life, so fast that we find down time difficult to deal with. She is talking turkey with me there. I am that person. I "feel" best when I'm going a hundred miles an hour. When I am without something to do, I am quickly in a state of unrest. Sue Monk Kidd reminds me that God says, "Be STILL and know that I am God". I am eager to learn more from her. While she is from a totally different Christian heritage than I, I am convinced she is a true follower of Jesus.