Do you read? If you do what do you read? Do you read only in areas that matter to you like a youth minister who reads only youth ministry books? Do you broaden your horizons?
I ask these questions as I am trying to make myself broaden my horizon’s even more. I have never been into fiction. Part of the reason is that I have to force myself to read so I thought I should only force what benefits me in life and work. I read a few weeks ago an introduction to an old book by C.S. Lewis and his words really made me think about what I was reading. He main thrust was on reading older books/ originals than relying on interpretations or commentaries on them. Think for yourself. That introduction sparked conversion between Chris and I, which is pretty normal. We started talking about rereading Josephus and Eusibus and books of the like that we skimmed in class to finish assignments. But it lead to talking about broadening or horizons and reading more books in different areas away from ministry and leadership which is most of which I read other than the blogs I frequent.
Reading is so important for us as developing leaders how can we (speaking to myself) focus on a narrow aspect of things. I finally for the first time since Middle School picked up a fiction book, The Davinci Code. I had to see what all the fuss was about. It is a great story. Totally intriguing, moving you on from page to page in anticipation of what is next and completely wrong in lots of place in the book. Being students of culture shouldn’t we follow some of the top fiction and non-fiction book out today? Maybe not reading them all but talking about them in book groups or from friends or parents who read them. What can we learn and what kinds of creative thoughts can we pick up on for our teaching?
