One of the great challenges of this life in the Spirit is staying focused in spite of the many distractions and influences that approach us. This quote from Henri Nouwen is helpful:
An important discipline...is spiritual reading. This will help us have some say over what enters our minds. Each day...we are bombarded with a myriad of images and sounds. While going through the daily routines of life so many things demand our attention...things that come in all sizes, colors and with gestures and noises. Their words yell at us and most of the time, compel us toward things that take us away from our intimacy with God. Whether we ask for it or not is not the question; we simply cannot go far without being engulfed with words and images forcibly intruding themselves into our minds. But do we really want our mind to become the garbage can of the world?...
Clearly we do not, but it requires real discipline to let God and not the world be the Lord of our mind. But that asks of us not just to be gentle as doves, but also cunning as serpents! Therefore spiritual reading is such a helpful discipline. Is there a book [assuming we are reading the Word of God as well] we are presently reading, a book that we have selected because it nurtures our mind and brings us closer to God? Our thoughts and feelings would be deeply affected if we were always to carry with us a book that puts our minds again and again in the direction we want [He wants us] to go.... Even if we were to read for only fifteen minutes a day in such a book, we would soon find our mind becoming less of a garbage can and more of a vase filled with good thoughts.
This encouraged me and I thought it might you too, toward more and effective times of reading.
Blessings,
Mitch
