Calrossy Chaplaincy

Books & Reading 

He was there from the very beginning, for lots of us.  As we found out that what seemed to be just funny black squiggles on the page actually meant something, his particular “black squiggles” started to embed themselves in our minds, while they gave us some of our first experiences of the world of reading and books.  We grew up with his nonsense, ridiculous rhymes entertaining us.  Even now, years later, many of us can still remember phrases that he wrote, word for word – or we might have children who do that for us! 

He is, of course, Dr Theodor Seuss – one of the first authors that many of us read.  Even now, decades after he was first published, Dr Seuss is still popular.  As we celebrate Book Week for 2022, it’s worth asking what Dr Seuss himself thought about books and reading!  Here is his wisdom: ‘The more that you read, the more things you will know.  The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.’

It’s more than just a simple rhyme; it also reminds us of the value of books and reading. They don’t just help us grow in knowledge; they also open up worlds of learning; and enable us to travel further in our minds and imaginations than we could have thought possible.  C. S. Lewis, who took us on wonderful journeys of imagination in his Narnia books, puts the importance of reading in this way: ‘We read to know we are not alone.’

When we read the best-selling book of all time, we see that it backs up these quotes from Seuss and Lewis.  The Bible is where God tells us – and confirms to us - that we’re not alone.  As we read it, we get to know this God and learn what He has done (and continues to do) for us.  If you haven’t ever read it, or if you haven’t opened it for a while, why not take some time to check out these things for yourself?

Mark Rundle

Calrossy Chaplain