A Time to Read

Fall has come to North Central Texas.

Fall is finally here in my part of the world, and I couldn’t be happier. The picture above is of the burr oak outside my window, which has one or two colorful leaves and gray skies peeking through the still green leaves. Add to that, damp conditions and a beginning temperature of 52 degrees this morning and kazam! It’s fall. A week or so ago, we were sure to have a frost and maybe even a freeze, but to my disappointment, and to my husband’s great relief, it only got down to 33. We have cows, after all, and a bit longer grass growing season is always welcome, but I always look forward to the “reading season,” a cozy time when one is housebound and simply can’t feel too guilty about reading much of the day away–that and eating chili, making cornbread, drinking hot chocolate, and putting away even more hot coffee than usual.

Speaking of reading, I’m afraid it is confession time here, and, asthey say, confession is good for the soul. As of late, well for numerous months now, I have been writing and rewriting and editing and working on different projects as if there were no tomorrow (and occasionally managing to do laundry, dust, cook for various hosting duties, etc.) with the problem being that the more I write, the less I read. This, I think, is a terrible problem. If you are a reader, I’m sure you are shaking your head up and down right now. I truly believe the ability to read is one of God’s finest gifts to us. Parents and elementary teachers, in particular, know the value of reading, of being a good reader, of learning to read, and then of reading to learn. Reading can sweep us away on the wings of Pegasus, take us to lands unknown, lift us in “flights of fancy,” teach us history, science, math music, art, religion, philosophy, and the arts. Reading is a miraculous thing. Mark Twain famously said: “Those who do not read are no better off than those who cannot read. And I don’t think he meant the reading of legal briefs, contracts, directions and recipes–but those are good things, too.

Now, back to my confession. I don’t believe I have read over half-a-dozen (large and small) books this entire year. That is a terrible confession for a “reader” and even worse for a writer. I’m already formulating a proposed New Year’s resolution, and I want to encourage everyone to make reading a priority. Read all sorts of things, but especially set aside time to read books, time to ponder information and ideas you haven’t considered before, time to be whisked off to other times and other places, and time to meet people you wished you’d known (or not). Set a reading goal. That’s what I plan to do. I’d like to make the goals a bit more specific (and ambitious) by including genres that may not be my first choices. Anyway, even if you do not generally read a lot, try to read more today and in 2024. You may be an extrovert who thinks reading is much too solitary an occupation, but, oh, the people you will meet inside a book; and, better yet, the joy you will experience in discussing an extraordinary book you’ve read with other readers. Readers love to share experiences, love to recruit other readers, and often love to socialize and connect over the discussion of a favorite book. If you think you do not enjoy reading, you may find that you simply haven’t found the right books yet. Reading is a treat you can give yourself this holiday season.