Story Time

I love to read, as a matter of fact I love it so much that I will even read the dictionary! As I sit here at my computer, I am surrounded by stacks of books I've read and often re-read. The public library is better than shopping at the Mall for me( Actually anything is better then shopping for me!) I can lose myself in the smell of old print and the catagorical presentation of subjects.

I believe this deep connection began in me as a small child in kindergarten. Storytime had me fixated on images and characters from far away places of someones imagination. But the best thing I liked was the voice of the librarian as she made each page come to life. I didn't want to miss one word of text, I always tried to sit in front to view the illustrations up close. I was and still am transported to places and situations that imprint my soul.

When my children were potty training, I used sitting time as a tool to read and reward them for their efforts. We would stay bathroom bound with stacks of books even after the mission was accomplished. To this very day I keep a Bible on the tank of each commode to allow undistracted oppertunity for reading! I have often encouraged friends who need more discipline in daily devotion and Bible literacy to place a copy in the bathroom! We all need to retreat there at some point in our day! And so, the quiet and seperated space can lend itself to a necesary connection with the Word of God. And since I can no longer read my children bedtime stories, I allow them to search scripture by putting it out there where they can help themselves to as much as they want or need.

Now I must say that this practice has been confirmed for me and my household as a valid source of inspiration. Many an epiphany has taken place after a nature call. Truelly it has become a call to a new nature of spirit as well. There are even times when a family member will leave a passage open or marked for the next visitor! This can provide a gentle sharing of the word without confrontation, so to speak. A reminder to place love above all else, a psalm of praise to God to refocus our victories as from him and not ourselves, even a marked parable to help us reorient our path. In few short moments as these, we become re-centered on our real source of knowledge and truth. We are cognisant of trusting God for what we don't have answers for, or we are open to recieve the answers we want to avoid!

The first time I ever read the bible all the way through, I was 20 years old and it was a childrens picture story bible. A gift to my infant daughter upon her dedication in church. I knew that with such an important vow as to train her up in Gods word I needed to understand the power of this written history of Faith. What I realized in having finished this bible storybook was in itself the most incredible portrait of a loving father I had ever seen! My desire to know a real relationship with him has since been through daily correspondence via his precious son Jesus and the letters of the New Testament.

I pray you will burn with such a passion for "storytime" and come as a child to get a front seat.