Tag Archives: reading

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How Many Books Are You Reading?

Last night, as Mike and I were going to bed, I read to him from a book I had just started. It was a book on marriage. It was debunking traditional advice given to people who desire to have a better marriage. Then this morning I read to him something I had read about Nihilism. It interested me because it applied to a problem a friend of ours was struggling with.

He said to me, “I thought you were reading the book about marriage.”

“I am,” I responded, “but I’m also reading about Nihilism.”

Then he thought for a minute. “And weren’t you just talking to me about something you read from A Wrinkle in Time?”

“Yep. I’m reading that too.”

I counted them up and admitted that I was actually reading six books at the moment.

He laughed, because he had five books of his own going at that time.

Now, before you put me in the “egg-head” category I need to make it crystal clear that I’m not a part of the new intelligentsia—as if that’s exactly what you were thinking. I do love books, but primarily because I need lots of help with life.

Sadly, I can’t take St. John Chrysostom, C.S. Lewis or David McCullough to lunch and pick their brains. I can’t literally surround myself with all the people smarter than me, or people who have traveled down roads on which I’m traveling. But I can surround myself with their words. So, when I have a question, when I need help, when I need to see life from a different perspective, I pick up a book.

I don’t always finish books. Occasionally I do, but more often than not I don’t. And that’s just fine. Sometimes it’s like meeting someone, getting the help you need and moving on without having to know everything they say about everything. And let’s be honest, some books aren’t worth finishing.

But many are and I just keep them going until I’ve gotten what I need, I get bored, something else grabs my attention, or until I finish them and grieve over their departure.

As I’ve thought about the number of books I tend to have at my side at any given time, I discovered three reasons why I don’t stick to just one:

1. Books come in a variety of formats. Each format fits a particular situation.

Traditional bound books:
Perfect for morning reading. I usually have a ruler and a pen in my hand. I ask questions, jot down comments in the margins and have a conversation with the author while I enjoy my morning coffee.

Audio books:
Great for road trips and long walks.

Electronic books:
Best for air travel and waiting rooms.

2. Books address the diversity of life’s circumstances. Life comes at you fast, from all angles.

Stories, Fiction, History:
For when I need some comic relief or a new perspective on life.

Practical Living:
For when I need to tap into someone else’s life experience and get concrete help for life’s challenges.

Personal Growth:
For when I need inspiration and an encouraging word from travelers who are ahead of me on life’s road.

3. Our days play out in a variety of settings. The different settings present different opportunities for learning.

Morning Reading:
My mind is the most alert and the most “teachable” in the morning. Consequently, this is when I tend to read “heavier” material.

On-the-go Reading:
If I’m likely to be distracted or interrupted I’ll gravitate toward fiction or stories that don’t require me to have a pen and paper in hand.

Bedtime Reading:
Because I’m already sleepy, I need a book that I can read in snippets. I rarely finish a chapter at night so I want to read bite-sized portions that will give my mind something positive to meditate on while I sleep.

So, there you have it. Three reasons why I read several books at one time and why it’s OK for you, too.

QUESTION: What about you? How many books are you reading right now?

P.S. Here are the books I’m currently reading:

A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle (Audio Book)

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller (Kindle)

The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John M. Gottman (Paperback)

Nihilism, The Root of the Revolution of the Modern Age by Eugene (Fr. Seraphim) Rose (Paperback)

Giver of Life, The Holy Spirit in Orthodox Tradition by Fr. John Oliver (Paperback)

The Melody of Faith, Theology in an Orthodox Key by Vigen Guroian (Paperback)

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How to Create Your Own Personal Reading Retreat

a-reading-retreatThis week Mike and I are in the Colorado Rockies getting a little R&R. We purposely set aside some time for a personal retreat where the focus would be solely on resting, reading, and writing.

Last summer we went to the beach for a week with no agenda in mind and by default it ended up being a week spent reading, writing and resting. We benefited from it so much that we planned another vacation for the winter specifically dubbing it our “Reading Retreat.”

I’m convinced that everyone can benefit from such a retreat. It doesn’t have to be expensive and it doesn’t have to be for a week in the mountains. Whether it is a week long, or just a day long, each of us needs time to recharge, refuel, and ruminate. We need restoration.

We need to get off the endless treadmill of life once in a while to catch our breath. This is where the resting comes in. We need to feed our minds as well as our souls. This is where the reading comes in. We need to process what we’re experiencing in life and ground ourselves. This is where the writing comes in.

How does one do this? Here are a few steps that I’ve found helpful:

  1. Determine how long you can be gone.
  2. Determine where you will go.
  3. Determine what needs to be done to make it a reality.

Length:

How long can you afford to be gone—both in terms of time and of finances?

  • Can you be gone for a whole week
  • A couple of days?
  • Overnight?
  • Or even just one day?

Location:

Where can you go?

  • A scenic spot out of town: the beach, the mountains, the lake?
  • Is there a friend’s house you could “borrow?”
  • Can you house-sit for someone who will be out of town?
  • Can you stay at a hotel in town?
  • Could you go to a local coffee shop or to the library?
  • How about going to a beautiful park and taking a picnic lunch?
  • Could you stay at your own house under the right circumstances?

It doesn’t have to be expensive. The key is getting out of your “normal” environment.

Logistics:

What logistics do you need to consider?

  • How much will it cost? Do you need to start saving your pennies so it can become a reality?
  • How will you get there? Will you fly, drive, or walk down the street?
  • What arrangements will need to be made for the kids, the dog, and the house?
  • What will you need to take with you—besides clothes, etc.

In order to answer this last question, you may first need to ask yourself why do you want to go? What areas in your life are being neglected? What needs to be nourished? Where do you want to grow? What do you want to learn more about? What decisions are facing you? These are just a few questions to help you get started planning for the time.

Once you’ve gotten an idea of where the focus will be, I recommend taking a stack of good books, a computer (or find access to one), a journal, a notebook, a sketch pad and pencils—or watercolors, your favorite pens, and music. Create your own soundtrack for the retreat to be played on an iPod, a portable CD player, etc.

When you begin your retreat you will have all these things, and your expectations, before you, but don’t feel bound to them. Keep your heart open. You may be surprised to find out that the “result” of the retreat will take you completely by surprise. God may take you in a direction that you could have never foreseen. Just be alert in the present moment.

So much of our lives is giving, giving, giving. We give our energy, our resources, our expertise. We give our time, our advice, and our shoulders to others. Now we must give ourselves permission to renew. If we want to have something to give—something worth giving—something we can keep on giving, we must keep our reservoirs full.

These retreats, whether major or mini, are what keep me “in the game.” I set aside days to spend at the library. I make a point to enjoy afternoons at Merridee’s Cafe, or a night at the Marriott, or even a week in the mountains. I schedule them on my calendar. This time of personal renewal is no longer optional for me. It is essential. It’s one of the many ways God speaks to me and assists me in becoming the person He has created me to be.