BEHIND

I am behind. I am behind on my blogging. I am behind on some administrative projects connected with my ministry, Heart for God. I am behind on my reading....

It was the latter reality that put the issue in the forefront of my thoughts. There are two periodicals I try to read mostly cover to cover: Touchstone and First Things. I’m just now half through the December issue of First Things with its opening articles on.... books — more to remind me of all that is “out there” to read.

One of the books I am presently reading is Thomas Merton’s The Seven Storey Mountain (it seems I should have read it years ago, and that’s not the only book for which I could give such an admission). I have a list of books — they probably would be six feet high or more if they were stacked one on top of another — that I “need” to read (should have already read).

Part of it comes from my spiritual journey. I do want to have a passionate and knowledgeable faith. I would not say I was totally “well-read” even in my previous tradition, and to have moved into the broadness of catholic (in the true meaning of the word) only means I have a seemingly endless number of books covering various facets of the Faith which are considered essential for a basic foundation.

So, I am behind.... and the more I read the more I’m aware of all that is “out there” needing to be read. Every year the list grows, as more and more is published. What causes a recent book to be so important that one reads it instead of a proven, and still unread, classic? Who makes such a decision? Even that seems to come..... by reading.

Botheration! I’m behind.