My colorful little tear-off desk calendar, which is getting thinner by the day, had these words today:"Books Fall Open, You Fall In". It was a perfect message for me. As I sat reading the paper this morning, my eyes caught the first true snowflakes of the season falling outside my window. It had been my intention for today, since it is my ‘day off’, to start a new book I purchased several weeks ago. I had two books that I needed to read(and enjoyed) for groups I am a part of, and so had put this new book aside for the right day. Snow, gray skies, cold temperature,day off, message from calendar. It all fits.Today is the right day.
For as long as I can remember books have been a source of inspiration, comfort, joy, entertainment for me. Curling up with a good story, whether in steamy or frigid temperatures, always seems to help whatever ails. It is a prescription which I hope I have passed on to my children. Sometimes nothing other than a good book will calm the beast of boredom, loneliness, sadness or overwork.
In August there was a report that one in four Americans surveyed had not read a single book in the past year. This survey of course does not include those who didn’t read because they never learned or learned only in a partial way. Not long after reading that statistic I was in both my local library and Barnes and Noble.In both places I had to stand in a rather long line to obtain my book. I am not sure what to make of all that but I remember being struck by the seeming incongruence of statistic and long line.
Frankly, I read because I need the words almost as much as I need food. How might my view of the world be different without the words of Anne Frank:"In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart."? Or how could I understand without the words of the skinned horse to the Velveteen Rabbit: "Real- it’s not how you are made-it’s something that happens to you when somebody loves you. Not just to play with, but really loves you. Then you become real." How would I know what to do if confronted with a hive of angry bees without Sue Monk Kidd’s words from The Secret Life of Bees:"Don’t be afraid, as no life-loving bee wants to sting you. Don’t swat. Don’t even think about swatting. If you feel angry, whistle. Anger agitates, while whistling melts a bee’s temper. Act like you know what you are doing, ever if you don’t. Above all, send the bees love. Every little thing wants to be loved." Sounds like advice that might come in handy even if I never come face to face with a single bee.
I don’t know what your plans are for the weekend. I hope they might include a book…one that leaves you with words that heal,offer hope, inspiration and maybe even a good laugh. Outside the window the snow has turned to sleet. My new book is set in North Carolina, probably warm and humid there. I think I will take a trip now and see what wisdom awaits.
"You shall put these words of mine in your heart and soul, and you shall bind them as an emblem on your forehead. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land God swore to your ancestors, as long as the heavens are above the earth." Deuteronomy 11:18-21
Have a wonderful weekend………………..