Reading is Sexy

I am one of those annoying people who is always in the middle of a few books all at once.  There is a stack on my night stand that I rotate depending on mood.

I also seem to have developed a daily reading system which links the WHAT I am reading with the WHEN - or time of day.  I didn't plan this.  It's an organic thing.

Too confusing?

Welcome to my head.  You're here, so sit back and see if anything I write jars you to exercise yours with some reading material.

Here's a taste as to how I get it all done.

Morning:  This is usually the time when I read material to strengthen my relationship with God.  The Bible (duh) being one of those books - although I'm not a large chunk reader (although I have read through the entire book).  God has given me a unique ability to read a small portion of scripture which then triggers a very specific thought, usually based upon only  few words in the passage.  It is on these morsels that I feed.  Sometimes for days. Somehow, I am able to connect all these mini insights into what I can only describe as a pattern not unlike that of a spider web.  They are all connected.  They are all necessary.  They all flow out from the center.  Hey, it's my world. 

I also enjoy Christian non-fiction, but not in mass quantities, as (here goes my opinion) there are so many Christian books that I consider pretty fluffy.   My Pastor put it this way the other night:  "Do not mistake "leafiness" for "fruitfulness".  There are times, (admit it), that Christians are so He^%bent on the next Christian book, or movie, or website, or program, etc., that they get sidetracked from actually talking to people about the actual Lord.  Jesus wants all to know Him, not the next best Christian trend.  Ok, beat me up now.

Anyway, I am thankful to have a husband who can sniff out the fluff pretty quickly.  When he finds a book that he believes I will devour, he passes it along.  Here is the latest.  And yes, I think most peeps should read it.

The Me I Want to Be:  Becoming God's Best Version of You by John Orberg.  God doesn't call us to change into someone else when we make the choice to follow Him.  Only, sometimes we look at others and think we should resemble them.  This can only cause frustration, or as Ortberg puts it, a "languishing spirit".  I don't want the word languishing to describe me.  Thus, I'm taking a closer look at how God created me, and how the specific qualities of who I am can both draw me closer to Him and assist in best sharing His love with others.

Afternoon:  This is blog/web article time.  Here is a sampling of my fav's (in no particular order). Granted most of the blogs are written by friends . . . I get too overwhelmed to keep up with all the Mommy Bloggers of the world.  There are others I read, (I have a super long list), but I'll share more with you another time.  Also, these folks don't post everyday, so I don't hit this list daily.

Pittsburgh Mom
The Mile Marker
Fooducate
Her.meneutics
Huffington Post
NPR
New York Times Opinion
Sojourners
Chalene Johnson
Carl Daikeler
No Sugar
Debbie Legg
If Mama Ain't
Rauch House
Ordinary Time
Eat, Run, Live
Lala Land

Evening: It's fiction time.  Or personal memoir time.  Yes, a smattering non-fiction also.  I also read young adult fiction because I have children who will one day be young adults. Currently reading:  My Sister from the Black Lagoon.  Just finished:  The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.  On my list:  Among the Hidden, The View from Saturday, Little Bee, The Book Thief, Hunger Games, How I Became a Famous Novelist, Scout, Atticus & Boo, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series.There's others, but I'm tired of linking.

So, as for my title?  You know, the one that made you go "huh"?  Reading is a passion of mine.  Passion is magnetic and contagious and even mysterious.  I, for one, think that's darn sexy.

And I have the t-shirt to prove it.