In case you haven’t guessed, I like books. All kinds of books. And I like what they can do for me.
I enjoy a well-written novel that can keep me turning pages long past my bedtime, eager to find out what happens next.
I love when a book teaches me something new, fascinating me with details and information I never heard before.
But there’s something else I often want books to do for me:
I want books to fix me.
I have countless books about the craft of writing because I’m sure that one of them is going to turn me into a fantastic writer, or even a published novelist. I regularly pick up parenting books because I’m convinced they’ll give me the “perfect” tools to become a “perfect” parent. I read book after book from the Christian Living section of the bookstore, looking for the key to being more godly, more consistent in my prayer life, more loving, more giving.
The thing is, there’s nothing inherently wrong with reading these books. They can teach me things and they can offer encouragement and practical advice.
But they’re not going to do the hard work for me. They’re not going to change me.
No book is going to instantly transform me into a mom who handles every discipline scenario with perfect wisdom and grace.
No book is going to push me out of bed in the morning and whisper into my ear that I need to start my day in prayer.
No book is going to be my writing task-master, forcing me to put words on paper even when I don’t feel like it.
The books might give me some good ideas, but they’re not going to do the work for me.
(Wouldn’t it be nice, though, if we could read a parenting book before bed, and wake up better parents without any effort on our part?)
I’ve been in denial about this issue, I think. It’s only recently that I admitted to myself that I’m looking for some kind of magic cure when I pick up the latest nonfiction that promises to have all the answers and tactics I need.
And so lately, instead of picking up that book, I’ve been talking to myself, reminding myself that the book — whatever this latest one is — is not going to fix me. There is no instant, magic cure.
But wait, please don’t think I’m ending on this on a depressing note.
There is hope for change and progress…I can hope for improvement in my life, little by little. I just can’t expect it to happen as a result of the small act of reading a few pages.
I need to do a few other things:
- Pray. Ultimately, the most important changes in my life are going to happen through God’s work in my heart and in my life. The things I most need and desire come as a result of the Holy Spirit cultivating them in me. Things like love, joy, patience, self-control. (Sound familiar? See Galatians 5:22-23. I need them all.) I need to pray for God to work in me and I need to nurture my relationship with Him above all else.
- Make the most important Book a priority. There is one book that is not magic, but supernatural. The Bible is “living and active” and because it is the Word of God, it can impact me in ways no other book can. I need to put this book and the things it says above every other book on my shelves.
- Exercise discipline, and apply the things I’ve already learned. Hoping to change and praying for change is foolish if I plan to indulge the same old bad habits and ignore the things I know I need to do. Reading about serving others only gets me so far…at some point, I need to actually get off the couch and serve someone. Reading about writing is nice, but will not help one bit if I don’t put my fingers on the keyboard and write something.
In case you’re my husband and you’re now thinking, “Excellent! Katrina won’t be buying any more books!” I’m afraid you’re wrong. See, I’m not saying that the books I enjoy aren’t good or helpful. I’m just saying that they’re not the ultimate solution to my problems. They’re just a starting place. Or maybe more of an in-between place — somewhere between the desire for change and the change itself.
I might still pick up some of those books. I’ll just be thinking of them a bit differently now.
Wonderful post.
Back in the 80′s, Cher had a commercial that said “If a good body came in a bottle, everyone would have one.” Same idea. An equal struggle.
Jennifer, Snapshot´s last post ..Kids Picks for October
Beautiful post! I’ve purchased many books on healthy eating, exercise, parenting, spiritual life, etc. I sometimes look at the stacks of them (some checked out from the library) and think that it is definitely NOT enough to just read the book. I am challenging myself to read my Bible each morning before even turning on my laptop and giving in to my online time addiction. I’m really enjoying your blog!
Ah yes, the effort and discipline part. I think we all want the quick fix but sometimes the fixing is in the journey to get there. Great post, Katrina!
Good post Katrina.
I am glad that you are still going to buy books… where do you think I get my books from?
Excellent post. And one I really needed to take to heart this morning! As a book reviewer, with a stack of books always needing to be read and reviewed by some arbitrary deadline, it’s so easy for me to put my Bible reading and prayer on the back burner. I tend to have the same mentality about each nonfiction book being the next “cure-all” for whatever ails me spiritually, emotionally, or physically. It’s about time I worked on breaking that habit!
Kate {The Parchment Girl}´s last post ..Kid Lit 1- Francis Chan’s Picture Books
Great post!
This rings true for so many people nowadays! They are looking for a “quick-fix” without actually doing the work!
America as a whole spends SO MUCH MONEY on self-help books looking for answers when all the answers we need to ANY of our questions are found, like you mentioned, in the greatest book ever written! The Bible!!
Thank you for sharing this well written post with us today! So much truth and honesty…really enjoyed reading it!
Wow! What a great post! I find myself doing the same thing. Trying to find answers where there are only suggestions. As long as I continue to sit still and do nothing, have I really learned anything? You have to make a concerted effort to try to do something. I love reading those kinds of books too, but you’re right the Bible is really the one we need to go to for solutions to the problems or for advice on what to do….
I tend to be the same way — when anything comes up, I tend to look for a book on the subject. I don’t know how many books I have on home management — and I haven’t looked at any of them in years! I need to remember to take time, soak in, and put into practice what I am reading instead of accumulating more books on the subject. Amen to your list of things to do to change.
Barbara H.´s last post ..Book Review- Faithful Women and Their Extraordinary God
Awesome, awesome post, Katrina!
And, so very true! I am very guilty of looking to nonfiction books for that elusive (read: nonexistent!) “magic cure”. Weight loss, parenting, Christian Living… you name it. In fact, my most-wanted book that I’m waiting on at the local library, right now, is called, “Immunity to Change” by Robert Kegan & Lisa Lahey… and it’s supposedly about the barrier between wanting to change, and actually changing. But, you’ve summed it all up right here — it’s a matter of DOING! LOL. Who needs another book to tell us that?! We all KNOW it, deep down!
…but, I do appreciate the reminder! I sooooo needed that, today!
~MizB
Bingo!
Did you sneak into my head last night? I’m right there with you on the fixing part – SO SO true. Thanks for giving me the clarity going forward.
The Survival Mama
What a wonderful post. I think a lot of bibliophiles have similar struggles, I know I do.
I feel the EXACT same way! I have fix-me books on every topic under the sun that I study religiously when I’m hurting for an answer on how-to…. parent, get skinny, eat, be godly, be a good wife/cook/Mom/sister, blog, write, run a marathon, disciple people, do make-up, cute hairstyles, flatter your body-type, pray, cook in season, be a risky leader, be a cautious leader, be a leader like Jesus, be a leader like Paul, etc.
I told you! I’m just like you… & it’s sooooo good to be reminded that those books do NONE of the work for me!
Great post. I need to be reminded that God’s word is the living and active word. It’s the one that will change me (with my submission to the Holy Spirit, too). This was a great post… but I’m with you, I’m still gonna be buying more books. I’ll just try to make reading my Bible more of a priority!