Turning Pages

Journal for Christa—

I’m starting to entertain the idea of buying a Kindle. I kind of like the idea of storing more than one book at a time on it, and I wonder if I could read it faster. But, I don’t know. There’s just something sacred about the feel of a book. I think I’d miss lifting my hand and turning the page. And, it would totally ruin my page turning analogy—

For when one turns the page in a book or a chapter of life, there are certain expectations. Turning the page creates anticipation and excitement for the unknown—because the best authors swing us around and surprise us when we least expect it.

There’s refreshing in turning the page. I don’t want to get stuck on a page—even in a good book. I want to take my familiar into new worlds and “suck out all the marrow of life” as Thoreau once said. Even in the anxiety of a scary tale, there are jewels of knowledge to glean.

I noticed this morning that the author of Ecclesiastics says, “The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing.” I think that could be a good thing.

Truly life is short, and often I think I’m stuck in a maelstrom grasping for a new page. And, today I turned it. Being the last day of school, I’ve entered the chapter of summer—a chapter of adult children, grandchildren, and Great Britain. So, whether it’s Fancy Nancy or Narnia, I’ve decided I want a book where the kids and I can reach up and turn the page.