ANOTHER BIG QUESTION

 This blog was written before I finished the book and put it on my Saturday picks this past Saturday.

It is NO secret I am a prolific reader.  I am currently busy reading a book which revolves around the life of C.S. Lewis.  As much as I have read about Mr. Lewis and read those books written by Mr. Lewis, I have found some new nuggets in this book.  (This was my Saturday book review)  One of the main characters of the book is a mathematician.  She is studying at the college close to  where Mr. Lewis tutored and goes on a quest to ask him where did the idea for Narnia come from.  Many of the details for his book came from Mr. Lewis's life story which he proceeds to tell.  

Megs (the character) is looking for this information for her younger brother who is also a prolific reader of fiction.  Megs only reads non-fiction ---math, physics, all that goes along with those titillating subjects.  Megs does not understand WHY anyone would read fiction--she is all about facts and only the facts.  Mr. Lewis was a literature professor.  Before he really began his writing, he studied the written word.  Much of what he writes comes from the examples pulled from his own life.

Much of what I write is inspired by my story.  Personal experiences, conversations, observations, and on and on.  My rambling comes from real life experiences.  Normally I tell the story without embellishing it within a fictional work.  Back to the subject~

SO---THE BIG QUESTION~~~~

Why do I read?

As I read this book, it occurred to me each character in it reads for a different reason and uses the information read for different purposes.  

This diagram sums it up nicely.  Most of my reading is for pleasure---even a form of escape or entertainment. To quote J.R.R. Tolkien, "Myths show us the way the world should be, or could be, instead of how it is."   I also read to gain knowledge and information including The Word daily.  I much prefer the written word to the verbalized word.  It gives me time to ponder what is being presented--word for word.  I retain the most by the act of writing--perhaps that is a link to all the reading.  I like to read--but it can pour in one door and fly out the other--unless I write it down.  When I am reading for entertainment, I keep both doors open and let it fly.  IF I intend to use the written word, want to store away what a have read, even want to consider it for future pondering ~ I must write it down.  SO--the majority of my time reading is spent reading for the pure pleasure of the story.  

The circle will now close with one more question-

Do I read God's Word for the pure pleasure of it?

I think we forget as we read, though He did not actually put the words on the page, God inspired the Bible.  LONG AGO man took these God inspired words and collected group of works that were God's story for us.  I must admit, I get bogged down at times. But if I remember all is for a purpose, and perhaps even write down a quote or two and actually think it over---what God is telling me begins to take shape.  Why do you read God's Word?

"Your words is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path."

Psalm 119:105