I like to read. One of the reasons that I like to read is that I want my children to see me reading. I didn’t read before I had kids. Most of what I read can fit into two categories, either Christian self-help books or leadership books. My goal behind reading these types of books is growth. I want to be a better person and a better leader.
I just finished the War of Art by Steven Pressfield. If is a very interesting book. It is a book that I read (or heard) someone reference as a book that you should read (which is how my book shelf and amazon wish list has been filled). The book took me a little while to get into. The first 50 pages (or so) took a me couple weeks, reading a little every night. The last 100+ pages, I finished this afternoon. The second section of the book is started of with a profound quote that really struck me. The quote is by Telamon of Arcadia, a fifth century B.C. Mercenary, and it reads’ “It is one thing to study war and another to live the warriors life.”
It reminded me of something that keeps coming up in my life. It’s (apparently) a concept that the Holy Spirit really wants me to grasp. A few weeks ago I was reading the writings of one of the wisest men to ever, “In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty” (Proverbs 14:23 ESV).
I think in my desire to be seen as a reader, I am trying to drink from a fire hydrant. I like checking off boxes. My goal each time that I open a book is the last page. Which is an issue in and of itself. Many times in my mad dash to finish a book, I may overlook or speed through the good stuff.
The point here is that I need to do something. That change takes place through actions, not books, not conferences, and not podcasts. All of these things are fine and good but they only provide ideas or suggestions. I need to put what I am learning to practice. For a book to be life changing, your life has to change!