July 18th, 2021: Benefits of Reading
Reading is a discipline that many people have not yet learned how to appreciate. Indeed, some folks cannot read well because of their disability. However, that is not the main reason. Life is just too hectic to read. Reading requires a time commitment and a desire to learn. I am going to share with you what I commented on a Social Media Posting recently.
Having the willingness to understand different perspectives somehow has become a lost art. Our culture has forced many of us to live in conformity with thoughts and ideas. We are experiencing a new form of brainwashing in many ways. Our unwillingness and inability to entertain diverse opinions are more harmful to the stability and health of our society.
Learning from different people is a gift. However, we have pushed it away by our unwillingness to read and learn from others. We would rather attach ourselves to "politically correct slogans" than have a deeper understanding of human motivation and reasons for our actions. We surround ourselves with people who have similar ideas and perceptions about life issues. We feel threatened when we have to read about something that contradicts our current stand on issues.
Discernment means having the ability to make a sound judgment. I don't think we have to argue this point much further. The absence of good judgment is the cause for the mess that we find ourselves in at this present time. We cannot gain discernment while living in denial. It won't happen when we assume that we are always right.
As we learn from others, we overcome some of our ignorance. Human spiritual ignorance has been a critical root for human suffering. Our ignorance of God and God's presence in the world has taken us to the pathway of self-destruction. The longer we dismiss God, the faster we will dismiss one another.
Solitude is a moment of quietness so that our souls can find solace in the vastness of God's beauty; our minds can be free to ponder between knowing and not knowing, and our hearts can be free from the self and others. In our solitude, we are willing to face the complexity of life with the simplicity of God's love for the world.
“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.” Psalm 42:1
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
