When I was a child I read and read and read.
What is your favorite thing to do?
Visiting relatives asked.
Read!
But, there were chores, and meals, and bedtime.
Dear God, when I’m grown up, I want to read as long as I want.
High school.
Even more chores
Activities with peers and friends, of course.
Wanting the best grades possible
Summer. Reading Reading And
Dear God, when I’m through with school, I want to read as long as I want.
College. Anxiety about grades. Study, study.
Some studyin, but far from enough, was
Reading stories.
Dating, day dreaming about dating,
And overall, a rich social life—for joy, and for procrastinating against study time.
Christmas break. ___t! Another term paper to write.
God, if I ever get through with school, I want to read as long as I want.
New job
Exciting—but anxiety producing—social life
Exhaustion at bed time
God, someday I’m going to read as much as I want to.
Marriage before kids.
A good book every couple of months. Ah-h-h!
Dear God, I love to read. Thank you for my eyes.
Kids.
Time with them more important than anything.
Something niggling for my attention even when the kids slept
Usually my own need for sleep.
Dear God, thank you for my family. Give me, someday,
Time for books, as many as I care to see
Kids have flown Retirement is on the horizon.
Hooray! Read read read. Ah here’s another bo…
But wait, there’s a society to save.
Roll up my shirt sleeves
Scoot the books over. Make room on the shelf for my volunteer hats
God, thank you for giving me health and a purpose
And for books as I fall asleep.
COVID-19 quarantine.
First day, one book. Second day, another book
In one month 1.5 feet of the decades-old to-be-read shelf
Empty
Hours in my recliner. The next story pulls me forward
Page by page
Till my eyes smart and my back screams
for the joy of a half hour on the trail.
Time for contemplation, too.
What do I believe about the power of prayer?
Oh, I believe!
God, thank you for time to read. Sorry I may have begged too hard.
