Reading For Life (Part 3)

My father who was a lorry driver when I was a kid made what we thought was the ‘most stupid decision.’ He bought a set of encyclopedia.

Actually, two sets – the other set was probably a “free gift” from the salesperson since my father “made a decision by today.”

My father could not really afford it.

He had to tighten his belt and settle the payment through extended monthly installments. I was sure that he was charged at a higher interest rate.

What was tragically funny was that we were too young to read and to make use of the encyclopedia.

The encyclopedia was – you may not believe it – placed in my neighbor’s house. It was loaned to their older kids until we came of age.

Buying the encyclopedia turned out to be one of the best decisions.

Somehow, in our small house, the two sets of encyclopedia took a prominent place.

When I was a kid, we did not only have the encyclopedia, we also have many books in the house. Most of them were given to us.

I spent a lot of time scanning the encyclopedia for all kinds of interesting information. I would also pour into the books – and have oftentimes lived in the ‘imaginary world’ triggered by the books.

I am glad that my first lessons from books were not from teachers who taught from them. I unconsciously made books my teachers.

Long after my formal education was over, I still have the books. I could continue to learn from them.

I started a lifelong love affair with books. I cannot live without them, and will not want to do it too.

Books have become my lifelong friends, and I will always love and cherish them.

The more I read, the more I can only learn. The more I learn, the more I improve and achieve better results in my life.

There is magic in reading. It is not just about finding out about life.

Reading brings forth life.

Reading can show me who I am and should be.

It teaches me how to live my life from the start of the day to the end, from where I am right now until I reach the end of my life.

Reading the Scripture also taught me about life and after death. I learned to see life from the perspective of  our Creator and measure it against eternity.

As Francis Bacon would say, “Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man.”

Go4It!

I hope this message will find a place in your heart.

By the way, I have also recorded other reflections.

Please go to ‘Notes’ found below my profile picture.

Visit my Inspiration blog at http://liewinspiration.wordpress.com

Visit my Transformation blog at http://hsrpatrickliew.wordpress.com

Please read them and continue to teach me.

Life is FUNtastic!  

 

Question: How can we leverage on reading to make full use of our lives?