Inspire

"The Word of Life: Embracing Wisdom Through Books”

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” – Psalm 119:105 .

As we celebrate Book Week 2024, we are reminded of the profound impact that books can have on our lives. Books are vessels of knowledge, stories, and wisdom, guiding us through various chapters of our own narratives. For Christians, the Bible is the ultimate book that lights our path and provides wisdom for every season of life.

In Psalm 119:105, the psalmist beautifully describes the Word of God as a lamp and a light. Just as a lamp illuminates the darkness and a light guides our way, so does God’s Word illuminate our hearts and minds, providing clarity and direction. During Book Week, we celebrate not only the written word but also the transformative power it holds when it is grounded in God's truth.

The Year 5s have been exploring many different books this term. The children each have their own individual interests, reading books that they love. Some of these texts bring them into new fictional worlds, and others reflect their real lives and interests. We cherish our reading time and look forward to Reader’s Workshop each week. 

We have challenged ourselves this term with a more complex text, Blueback by Tim Winton. We have enjoyed reading it as a class and connecting to the meaning behind the text. It is a beautiful story about a boy called Abel and his mother Dora. They live off the land and sea in a bay, and befriend and protect a huge and friendly blue fish named Blueback.  

Blueback connects beautifully to our Environmental Inquiry; it teaches readers the importance of not taking more than we need, considering creatures great and small, and protecting animals and nature to the best of our ability. We have loved drawing these important lessons from Blueback and discussing what these can teach us. We have also connected this to our responsibility to care for God’s Creation in Christian Studies. 

Consider the many books that have shaped your life—whether they be novels, biographies, or even devotional literature. Reflect on how they have influenced your thoughts, actions, and faith. We are forever grateful to the wonderful writers who bring these texts to life!

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of books and the knowledge they impart. We are grateful for their ability to connect us as readers and lovers of stories. As we celebrate Book Week, help us to connect to the wonderful texts we come across and hold gratitude for the writers who have brought them into being. 

In your name, we pray.

Amen.

Submitted by Kristen Harris