I very much enjoyed the peak into your process. Thank you for sharing it in such detail. Deep reading has become a spiritual practice for me, a practice I adopted after a conversation with my friend Emily, Myquillyn's sister.
Last month, Pope Francis wrote about the importance of reading literature for spiritual formation. While the letter is addressed to priests, he shared many ideas that are beneficial for anyone who reads.
I found this section intriguing: "This is a definition of literature that I like very much: listening to another person’s voice. We must never forget how dangerous it is to stop listening to the voice of other people when they challenge us! We immediately fall into self-isolation; we enter into a kind of “spiritual deafness”, which has a negative effect on our relationship with ourselves and our relationship with God, no matter how much theology or psychology we may have studied."
Again, thank you for taking the time to share your process.
Katie, thank you for sharing this quote. I love it. And how delightful that we share common friends! I totally agree and love the concept of deep reading as spiritual practice. Believe it or not, I felt that way about my research for the PhD. Before embarking on it, some told me how research, especially in the British way, can be lonesome and make one feel isolated. But I found it to be deeply spiritual--one of the most imaginative endeavors I've ever taken on. "Reading as Spiritual Formation" ... that would be a great podcast topic. :)
Insightful, Tim. Keep writing!….I share many of your loves - of deep reading, stacks of unfinished books, and C.S. Lewis….and also of hiking in the woods behind my home. Which is where I read “The Beauty Chasers” (sort of….actually, it was during a hike along an ocean coastline down the road).
I have also done a lot of thinking, and a little writing, on print-vs-screen reading. A few years back, I coined the phrase “paper divide” (although, unsurprisingly, no one seemed to notice or care). And, in case you ever need a cure for a bout of wicked insomnia some dark and stormy night, I wrote a somewhat lengthy literature review on the topic too.
Would love to hear some more of your thoughts on that specific topic (reading on screens versus print) someday soon.
Barry, I'd love to read your work on the 'paper divide.' Where would I find it? My oldest daughter hates reading on a screen and always tells me how when she has to for school or for her research, that she reads much slower. I'm grateful you gave The Beauty Chasers a read! And even more stoked that you read it in your back woods! That makes me smile. :)
I don’t believe it would be exaggerative of me to say that your post here has changed my life. At the least, it’s dripping with the confirmations of things (in ways I can barely wrap my head around!)…idk, I’m at a loss how to even finish that sentence. But I’ll finish this comment with this - I’m going to print your words here out so I can overcome the great paper divide! Lol
Rebecca, I don't what to say ...only, hallelujah! That these words could contribute to your joy and inspiration is truly an honor and a blessing to hear! I love when confirmations come to us in this way. Celebrating with you!
Have you read "Theo of Golden" by Allen Levi? There's subtle and excellent references to beauty interwoven throughout. Plus, the message is timeless and beautiful in itself. Thanks.
I'd love to hear your feelings of it upon completion. I don't think you'll be sorry if you put it on top of the stack. My second time through is more enjoyable than the first.
Really appreciated this! I am a lifelong reader, but really struggling to find my stride for personal reading/thinking/writing sans deadlines after finishing my seminary degree back in May. Your ideas here give me some inspiration.
Incidentally, it's taken me a bit to put together the pieces, but I also am a graduate of GCTS and think you may know my girls from WOW (I am Bethany and Annalise's mom). Stumbled across your Substack from a random link several months ago. Small world!
Hi, Jen! Yes, small world! And yes, I know your girls from WOW. That's so cool.
I can understand how, now that seminary is over, it might be difficult to find your stride. For me, once seminary was over, it was almost as if I was set free to finally read and write further. That's actually what prompted going on to the PhD. I'm glad som of this was inspirational for you. My advice would be to just give yourself freedom to explore those subjects/topics that piqued your interest during seminary and run with it. :)
Thanks... I have a whole long list of rabbit trails that I didn't have time to run down...
Since you're local, let me ask: are you aware of any local groups or people who like to gather to discuss things like this - reading/writing/ideas in a theological vein? I would love to connect with something like this that's in person and not Zoom based.
I believe in The Word and the power of words, and I love reading yours. I adore a book in my hands, but I'm so thankful for digital reads as well, such as substack. I am happy to have a place to go in lines, waiting rooms, and "on the go" other than social media... when not engaging with others.
I will always buy tangible books, as long as they are available. I added to my Amazon cart after reading some of these comments. (Thank you.) I don't leave thrift stores without worn old paper and hardbound friends. I remember "stumbling" Divinely across books in my eager young reading days, and I fear that accidentally finding beautiful stories is harder in an online collection than in a friend's or family member's shelves and stacks - especially if you aren't shopping for books. I want my spaces to be ones where a guest is apt to stumble across a word or two - or an avalanche.
Leslie, I love the notion of spaces being places where guests stumbl upon an avalanche of words. My wife and I say that we decorate with books. Actually, it was a friend who told us that and we didn't realize it. Now, we own it. :)
I love the book stacks! I've found a good book pairing is amazing for connecting dots and activating new thoughts and discoveries. I read The Beauty Chasers right after readings Peterson's The God of the Garden and found it to be the perfect Chaser. Thanks Tim!
That’s awesome, David. Believe it or not I’ve had several people tell me similar things. 🙌 Thank you for reading it! Perfect “chaser” … I see what you did there. 🤓
I believe it! They are different in many ways but they complement each other wonderfully. A couple of Inklings. Thank you for writing it! It's one of my favorites and I'm already looking forward to rereading - this time with some post it tabs. (I couldn't resist 🥃😆)
I needed this reminder today that there are modern readers. And it’s okay to be one and talk about it, along with push back against the current trends in writing/publishing. Thank you 🙏🏼
Absolutely! And, I'd love to hear more about your perspective on the "push back against the current trends of writing/publishing." As you probably know, this topic interests me a lot.
Fabulous post. I love to learn about other's writing and reading processes. I'm a book stacker too! I like how you use the sticky tabs vertically and horizontally.
Thank you, Trina! And I love that all the book stackers are standing up for their rights! Hahaha. I started using the flags horizontally because I was using too many vertical ones and not knowing what page I really wanted to come back to. Ha!
Thanks for your insights, Tim! I found it particularly interesting about the difference between listening to a podcast versus actually reading a physical book and turning pages. Knowing WHY you read really helps to keep the discipline going, despite constraints. I talk to so many mothers that gave up a love and habit of reading as soon as they had children. (Whereas I started my habit after I had children because I found myself suddenly hungry for wisdom and understanding) Now I wish I’d read more when I had longer stints of time, and eyes that would stay open for longer in the evenings. I have been forced to read extremely slowly for this reason, and after many years I would say that it probably is not such a bad thing.
Hi Sarah! Yes, the podcast versus reading a physical book is important i think, especially in the world we live in. I have also talked with men and women who not only stop reading in adulthood but also stop listening to music. I wonder why this is. Perhaps we think that learning is over after college or graduate school and now it's time for application. But for me, I get excited every day to learn something new. The world becomes a fuller more lively place.
I don't think reading slowly is at all bad. I raise my cup of tea to you and salute yours and my slow reading. :)
Also, it is interesting that some people giving up music too. I think sometimes I listen to too much music and have to actively turn it off so that i can learn to enjoy the sound of silence and all the good that can come from it. 😝
Yes! We often ask the kids around the dinner table, “What is one thing that you learnt today?” But then they ask me and I have to come up with an answer, too! Haha! Sometimes when I think about heaven, I think about the possibility of being able to study and learn to gain understanding and wisdom. Will there be a ‘school’ in heaven? I hope so.
For me it's always fun to know the mechanics of another person's discipline. Super insightful stuff here. A few years ago, I made the decision to stop being the person who wanted to read more and just actually read more. So glad I did. Thanks for letting us get a look behind your bookshelf.
P.S. If you couldn't tell, I just finished The Beauty Chasers. Terrific. Bravo, sir.
Kaleb, I'm so thankful you picked up The Beauty Chasers! Thank you! I'm glad this post was insightful for you. That decision you made years ago is awesome. For me the world becomes more alive with each book and thinker I come across.
Thanks for the inspiration. Substack is great, but I am now putting the phone down in favor of a good old paper book and cup of tea!
Yay! I just poured a cup of my own. Cheers!
I very much enjoyed the peak into your process. Thank you for sharing it in such detail. Deep reading has become a spiritual practice for me, a practice I adopted after a conversation with my friend Emily, Myquillyn's sister.
Last month, Pope Francis wrote about the importance of reading literature for spiritual formation. While the letter is addressed to priests, he shared many ideas that are beneficial for anyone who reads.
I found this section intriguing: "This is a definition of literature that I like very much: listening to another person’s voice. We must never forget how dangerous it is to stop listening to the voice of other people when they challenge us! We immediately fall into self-isolation; we enter into a kind of “spiritual deafness”, which has a negative effect on our relationship with ourselves and our relationship with God, no matter how much theology or psychology we may have studied."
Again, thank you for taking the time to share your process.
Katie, thank you for sharing this quote. I love it. And how delightful that we share common friends! I totally agree and love the concept of deep reading as spiritual practice. Believe it or not, I felt that way about my research for the PhD. Before embarking on it, some told me how research, especially in the British way, can be lonesome and make one feel isolated. But I found it to be deeply spiritual--one of the most imaginative endeavors I've ever taken on. "Reading as Spiritual Formation" ... that would be a great podcast topic. :)
Insightful, Tim. Keep writing!….I share many of your loves - of deep reading, stacks of unfinished books, and C.S. Lewis….and also of hiking in the woods behind my home. Which is where I read “The Beauty Chasers” (sort of….actually, it was during a hike along an ocean coastline down the road).
I have also done a lot of thinking, and a little writing, on print-vs-screen reading. A few years back, I coined the phrase “paper divide” (although, unsurprisingly, no one seemed to notice or care). And, in case you ever need a cure for a bout of wicked insomnia some dark and stormy night, I wrote a somewhat lengthy literature review on the topic too.
Would love to hear some more of your thoughts on that specific topic (reading on screens versus print) someday soon.
Barry, I'd love to read your work on the 'paper divide.' Where would I find it? My oldest daughter hates reading on a screen and always tells me how when she has to for school or for her research, that she reads much slower. I'm grateful you gave The Beauty Chasers a read! And even more stoked that you read it in your back woods! That makes me smile. :)
I don’t believe it would be exaggerative of me to say that your post here has changed my life. At the least, it’s dripping with the confirmations of things (in ways I can barely wrap my head around!)…idk, I’m at a loss how to even finish that sentence. But I’ll finish this comment with this - I’m going to print your words here out so I can overcome the great paper divide! Lol
Rebecca, I don't what to say ...only, hallelujah! That these words could contribute to your joy and inspiration is truly an honor and a blessing to hear! I love when confirmations come to us in this way. Celebrating with you!
Have you read "Theo of Golden" by Allen Levi? There's subtle and excellent references to beauty interwoven throughout. Plus, the message is timeless and beautiful in itself. Thanks.
Joe, I have not read "Theo of Golden." But I'm very intrigued. Thank you so much for the recommendation. I shall add it to one of my stacks. :)
I'd love to hear your feelings of it upon completion. I don't think you'll be sorry if you put it on top of the stack. My second time through is more enjoyable than the first.
So many great nuggets here; I shall have to re-read this. But I must say, that last line really resonated-“Reading is an act of worship.”
As always, thanks for giving us much to ponder!
Thanks, Maureen. That last line is my mantra. I'm delighted it resonated with you!
Really appreciated this! I am a lifelong reader, but really struggling to find my stride for personal reading/thinking/writing sans deadlines after finishing my seminary degree back in May. Your ideas here give me some inspiration.
Incidentally, it's taken me a bit to put together the pieces, but I also am a graduate of GCTS and think you may know my girls from WOW (I am Bethany and Annalise's mom). Stumbled across your Substack from a random link several months ago. Small world!
Hi, Jen! Yes, small world! And yes, I know your girls from WOW. That's so cool.
I can understand how, now that seminary is over, it might be difficult to find your stride. For me, once seminary was over, it was almost as if I was set free to finally read and write further. That's actually what prompted going on to the PhD. I'm glad som of this was inspirational for you. My advice would be to just give yourself freedom to explore those subjects/topics that piqued your interest during seminary and run with it. :)
Thanks... I have a whole long list of rabbit trails that I didn't have time to run down...
Since you're local, let me ask: are you aware of any local groups or people who like to gather to discuss things like this - reading/writing/ideas in a theological vein? I would love to connect with something like this that's in person and not Zoom based.
I believe in The Word and the power of words, and I love reading yours. I adore a book in my hands, but I'm so thankful for digital reads as well, such as substack. I am happy to have a place to go in lines, waiting rooms, and "on the go" other than social media... when not engaging with others.
I will always buy tangible books, as long as they are available. I added to my Amazon cart after reading some of these comments. (Thank you.) I don't leave thrift stores without worn old paper and hardbound friends. I remember "stumbling" Divinely across books in my eager young reading days, and I fear that accidentally finding beautiful stories is harder in an online collection than in a friend's or family member's shelves and stacks - especially if you aren't shopping for books. I want my spaces to be ones where a guest is apt to stumble across a word or two - or an avalanche.
Thank you for this contemplation.
Leslie, I love the notion of spaces being places where guests stumbl upon an avalanche of words. My wife and I say that we decorate with books. Actually, it was a friend who told us that and we didn't realize it. Now, we own it. :)
I love the book stacks! I've found a good book pairing is amazing for connecting dots and activating new thoughts and discoveries. I read The Beauty Chasers right after readings Peterson's The God of the Garden and found it to be the perfect Chaser. Thanks Tim!
That’s awesome, David. Believe it or not I’ve had several people tell me similar things. 🙌 Thank you for reading it! Perfect “chaser” … I see what you did there. 🤓
I believe it! They are different in many ways but they complement each other wonderfully. A couple of Inklings. Thank you for writing it! It's one of my favorites and I'm already looking forward to rereading - this time with some post it tabs. (I couldn't resist 🥃😆)
I needed this reminder today that there are modern readers. And it’s okay to be one and talk about it, along with push back against the current trends in writing/publishing. Thank you 🙏🏼
Absolutely! And, I'd love to hear more about your perspective on the "push back against the current trends of writing/publishing." As you probably know, this topic interests me a lot.
Fabulous post. I love to learn about other's writing and reading processes. I'm a book stacker too! I like how you use the sticky tabs vertically and horizontally.
Thank you, Trina! And I love that all the book stackers are standing up for their rights! Hahaha. I started using the flags horizontally because I was using too many vertical ones and not knowing what page I really wanted to come back to. Ha!
Thanks for your insights, Tim! I found it particularly interesting about the difference between listening to a podcast versus actually reading a physical book and turning pages. Knowing WHY you read really helps to keep the discipline going, despite constraints. I talk to so many mothers that gave up a love and habit of reading as soon as they had children. (Whereas I started my habit after I had children because I found myself suddenly hungry for wisdom and understanding) Now I wish I’d read more when I had longer stints of time, and eyes that would stay open for longer in the evenings. I have been forced to read extremely slowly for this reason, and after many years I would say that it probably is not such a bad thing.
Hi Sarah! Yes, the podcast versus reading a physical book is important i think, especially in the world we live in. I have also talked with men and women who not only stop reading in adulthood but also stop listening to music. I wonder why this is. Perhaps we think that learning is over after college or graduate school and now it's time for application. But for me, I get excited every day to learn something new. The world becomes a fuller more lively place.
I don't think reading slowly is at all bad. I raise my cup of tea to you and salute yours and my slow reading. :)
Also, it is interesting that some people giving up music too. I think sometimes I listen to too much music and have to actively turn it off so that i can learn to enjoy the sound of silence and all the good that can come from it. 😝
Yes! We often ask the kids around the dinner table, “What is one thing that you learnt today?” But then they ask me and I have to come up with an answer, too! Haha! Sometimes when I think about heaven, I think about the possibility of being able to study and learn to gain understanding and wisdom. Will there be a ‘school’ in heaven? I hope so.
For me it's always fun to know the mechanics of another person's discipline. Super insightful stuff here. A few years ago, I made the decision to stop being the person who wanted to read more and just actually read more. So glad I did. Thanks for letting us get a look behind your bookshelf.
P.S. If you couldn't tell, I just finished The Beauty Chasers. Terrific. Bravo, sir.
Kaleb, I'm so thankful you picked up The Beauty Chasers! Thank you! I'm glad this post was insightful for you. That decision you made years ago is awesome. For me the world becomes more alive with each book and thinker I come across.
This is so timely in my life and so helpful! Thank you!
I'm so happy the post was helpful, Caroline!