Thursday, March 2, 2023
“Read for 15 Minutes”
Today is National Read Across America Day, established in 1998 as means to help kids become excited about reading. Has it worked? I dunno! I do know that I wish I would have read more as a child. I was rarely excited about reading.
One of my close friends (Sam W.) was always reading in elementary school. He used to get in trouble in class because he would be reading a novel while the teacher was trying to teach us something. He used to tell me that he liked to read, but I never understood it. He played and goofed off like the rest of us, but in class, he just read. Then, once we reached high school I began to understand. He smoked those standardized tests like the PSAT, SAT, and ACT. He made good grades and attended an excellent college. He’s now a very successful businessperson. I’ve always assumed that his success came from reading.
When I think about it, I recognize that I am almost always reading something because of my vocation as a pastor. However, I rarely read for enjoyment. Oh sure, I read trade magazines and scholastic stuff. I suppose that qualifies as enjoyment since I’m usually reading those to satisfy my interests and curiosities. Yet still, it’s highly unusual for me to read purely from the standpoint of enjoying a good story.
Today, I’m going to change that. I’m going to discover a novel and begin reading it for no other purpose than to just enjoy it. You can read whatever you want, but it’s time to pick up a new book and get busy. If nothing else, we might become a little smarter today. I’m guessing all of us can use that.
Read for 15 minutes today!
“Wise men and women are always learning, always listening for fresh insights.” (Proverbs 18:15, The Message)
