Nate was an intellectual, and I used to wonder if my goofy questions were too foolish to ask, not wanting him to think he married a dummy. My mind was like a wind-tunnel, whoosh-in-whoosh-out. Nate’s was like a funnel; information poured into him and stayed there. His favorite leisure activity was reading, especially newspapers, and wherever he sat, a pile of printed material would accumulate.
I remember the day I was planning to ask Nate to read a book I’d found helpful, so we could discuss it. It was about making a good marriage better, and I knew it wasn’t his preferred genre. But I had an idea. First I’d ask if he’d like me to read anything special. Then I’d ask about my book.
When I asked what he’d like me to read, he said, “A daily newspaper.” And surprise-surprise, that wasn’t my preferred genre. Nate loved to discuss current events, and my end was usually no more than a battery of questions. I knew he wished I’d be better informed.
He then said, “And what should I read?” and I handed him the marriage book. He looked it over and said, “Sure. I’ll take a look at it.”
The next morning, after he’d read the first newspaper of his daily four or five and had left for work, I spread out Section 1 on the kitchen counter and began reading. In the next few weeks I gleaned enough from 10 daily minutes with one newspaper to handle dinner conversations, and he perused the marriage book enough to talk about it.
Although we both gravitated back to our earlier preferences, Nate began marking newspaper pages with ballpoint, drawing arrows at articles he thought I’d enjoy reading and leaving them on the kitchen counter. Sometimes he’d jot comments in the margins.
Gradually I applied his condensed method to the books I wished he’d read. I’d Xerox a couple of pages, write a note at the top, and set them next to his newspapers. He always read them, sometimes adding his own comments next to mine and handing them back. Our “distilled” system worked well throughout the years, and we were still using it until cancer took away his ability to read.
Sometimes I think of God as the #1 intellectual of all time. He’s fully informed about every newspaper subject, having actually orchestrated the details behind the world events reported in the articles. Yet he’s also interested in close-to-home topics like marriage and family.
He uses creative ways to point his arrows toward the parts of his Word we need to read, and his comments are written all over it. Best of all, he’s eager to participate in the conversation. And when we call on him, he answers with, “Count me in.”
“Moses and Aaron were among his priests, and Samuel was among those who called on his name. They called upon the Lord and he answered them.” (Psalm 99:6)
Praising and Praying with Mary
- PTL that the tube pain is gone!
- Please pray we’ll get the many wedding preparations done on schedule. Only 3 weeks left.
So tracked with you today. Your reading system is awesome, at this point the best we do is share on line stories, or perspectives but it works. 🙂 We are so different but life is not boring for Don and who he is good for me :).
I have come to the conclusion that we need several lifetimes to read all we would like. I also like to keep up with certain current events, so use the radio while I do various chores. I confess I read few books as I try to keep up with other readings. Yes, it can get frustrating!
I also think of you as very smart, too. How else could you do all you have done from raising kids, to writing, to the nursery committee of old. :). I’m sure Nate was very proud of you.
You have a Christian upbringing that few have had. You had a grounding in the Word & parents with vastly different temperaments that lived it out for you to see. That is so rare!