Making The Book Your Own

There are many bookcases in my house.
The living room alone has four large bookcases and one small one, which are filled with books.
The books used to go in the same direction with their spines nice and straight.
Now some books are placed horizontally on top of the vertical ones.

I never thought I would have books going in different directions on my bookshelves.
Not because I want them all nice and neat, exactly.
I just never imagined I would have so many books that they demanded to go every which way.
To a reader like me, that is a good problem to have.

I love to read.
I love to read an actual book.
I am not a fan of reading eBooks, the method my husband prefers.
He bought me a Kindle but I admit that I put away in a cabinet.

There is something about holding a book in your hands.
There is something about the smell of a book that seems to call to me.
I need to turn the pages.
I need to be able to interact with the book.

That statement would cause me to lose a debate, since one can interact with an eBook.
One can interact, but not in the same way.
I have read a few eBooks and found it distracting to try and highlight passages.
However, my trusty red pen is another story.

Next to my chair and my pile of books, there is always a red and black pen.
One might think the pens are for note taking, but they would be mistaken.
The pens are for underlining.
The pens are also for arrows and stars and exclamation points.

I just told my husband that no one would ever want my books.
They may look at my library and think they would want a copy of this one or that one.
However, when they opened up my books, they would change their mind.
My books are the kind of books that would get a very poor rating if they were bought used.

When I read a fiction book, I make no marks at all.
When I read a book to learn, or to prepare for a Bible study, I make many marks.
The marks and underlined passages help me to find things again when I need a reference.
I can picture where something is on the page.

I have actually written, NO! next to passages with which I strongly disagree.
I make the book my own.
It is probably not what the author intended, but it is what I need to do.
Obviously, library books are off limits for this kind of thing.

The book that has the most underlining and notations is my Bible.
That Bible, which I have had ever since becoming a Christian, stays in my house.
It is literally falling apart.
Some of the writing along the side margins, is smeared from touching it so many times.

I had to write over some of my writing that got smeared along the way.
The Book of Job has totally come away from the binding.
I have many other Bibles for reference or study, but this one is MY Bible.
I know where everything is on each page.

I called a place that sells old books because I heard that they do rebinding.
Since Bible pages are onion thin, it is difficult to have it rebound, but not impossible.
The only problem with my Bible is that I have taped many pages with clear packing tape.
It holds the Bible together but cannot be taken off the thin pages.

Charles Spurgeon said: A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.
I never forgot that quote and have clung to it on days when I didn’t feel so together.
I do think a well worn Bible tells a story.
The writing and notations tell of a journey of faith throughout its pages.

I taught Sunday school many years ago.
I asked the children what it meant if their sneakers were clean, with no marks at all.
It means that we don’t play or we’re not going outside, were the common answers.
They were right; if you don’t use your sneakers, they will never get dirty.

Clean sneakers might look good but, in that condition, they are merely an accessory.
Our Bible should never be an accessory.
Our Bible should be used and worn and tattered and very loved.
Underline, put stars, arrows, and notations on the page.

Whatever it takes: make that Bible your own.
Very used is very loved.
Very used means those pages tell a story.
The Bible itself may be falling apart, but God’s Word is holding you together.

Preserve my life according to your word. I recounted my ways and you answered me; teach me your decrees. Let me understand the teaching of your precepts, then I will meditate on your wonders. (Psalm 119:25b-27)