There is something about
the way the words dash across the screen and the cursor dances with each pause
and the pencil scrapes the page that makes writing so intriguing. Half the fun
is not knowing exactly what will come out. And when the letters form words they
become subject to the readers themselves. The writer paints a picture but it is
the reader who openly interprets it and imagination and emotions spring to
life. What was the color and shape of the pencil scraping the page? Perhaps
similar to my favorite grey mechanical who lost his eraser years ago but keeps
on trucking along. And the paper. Yes. The paper. Is it typical three whole
punched binder paper? Or is it bound in a fancy notebook brimming with colors
and quotes and doodles in its margins? Those are the juices that are allowed to
run wild as the reader is taken through the words so carefully selected and
pieced together.
More or less. Vague or
scattered with details. Oh the choices and possibilities on the page are
endless. Stories unfold and pictures are painted, without acrylics or canvas.
Just pure imagination and life experience. Yes. We must not forget life
experience. It weaves in emotions and memories that correlate to the words we
read on the page and allows us to sympathize. To smile. To cry. To love. All
because of some black type. Oh, the beauty of the written word.
The bible says that
God's word is truth (Psalm 119:160). That it is alive and active (Hebrews 4:12). It is
amazing how reading words can change your life. How each time you read a
passage something sweet and new is revealed. Like unwrapping a piece of fine
chocolate and anticipating its taste. Sometimes it does not taste like you had
imagined and the aroma seems a little off but you keep unwrapping and take
another bite because it is chocolate after all. And God's word is like that. It
is not always sweet and pretty but it has substance and depth that nothing else
can compare to. How God uses the word to breathe life and hope and love is
remarkable. My own words cannot do it justice but I am okay with that.
After
all, does
the clay say to the potter, 'what are you making?' (Romans 9:21)
I pray that if you have never taken the time to
read the bible, to open up its pages and let the word speak life in to your
life, that you would do so. Reading books about the bible or bible commentaries
or blogs or other articles are all great resources but you are missing the meat of it
all. What God has to say to you through words that span centuries and millenniums
is nothing like you can get through other means. And just in case you need a
little help in your own study, this method might come in handy.
Here's to more truth and less noise. More of God's
word and less of everyone else's.