Hidden Treasure

Good books don’t give up all their secrets at once.

-Stephen King

Stephen King is my daughter’s favorite author.  Because his genre is basically the macabre—horror fiction, I do not read his books.  A few years ago, however, she introduced me to a Stephen King book I could read:  On Writing.  In this book, King reveals his creative process, and gives fantastic advice to those of us who would love to be better writers.  His statement above is one of many excellent thoughts regarding the reading/writing process.

When I read a book that proves to be fascinating – an “I can’t put it down” book, it goes on the bookshelf in my bedroom. When I have a long appointment or an overnight stay, I grab one of my favorites to take with me.  Some books, such as Killer Angels by Michael Shaara, I have read dozens of times.  Its finely drawn portraits of men functioning under the extreme stress of war [Civil War] are always fresh.  Beyond that, there inevitably is something in dialogue, action or emotion that I missed on the last read-through.

The Bible is the king of “ah-ha!” moments.  No matter how many times you read it, noting connections and cross-connections, you will always find something that you did not recognize before – a comment, an inflection, a bond between Old and New Testaments, a fulfillment of prophecy, an understanding that you did not experience the last time you read that passage.  I am often guilty of thinking, “Oh, I’ve already read that!” or “Oh, I already know about that.”  Yes, I have studied the Bible a great deal; but No, I will never know everything it has to teach me.  It will always contain hidden treasure, just waiting to be revealed.

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

Hebrews 4:12 [New Living Translation]