| Romans 3:23 – “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” |
I just finished reading a book our youngest son gave me for Father’s Day. “Band Of Brothers”. It recounts the WW II exploits of Easy Company, part of a paratroop division. I am not a huge reader. Oh, I am a daily Bible reader.
When I was 30 years old, I decided I didn’t know the Word of God very deeply, so, I made myself a promise. I would start small, one chapter a day, and keep that up for the rest of my life. Since that time, I may have missed once, and I made up for it by reading double the next day. I missed because I forgot. How did I forget to do something that I have done every night before bed for 39 years now? I don’t know, but I did once.
Anyway, I know of some big readers. Yesterday, my wife told me she heard a journalist say he reads one book every day. I know women who read hundreds of books each year. My wife is a much bigger reader than I. I am always drawn to biographies. Last year, I read an Adolph Hitler biography that was nearly 1000 pages. I thought it was a fascinating story of the man I feared even reading about.
I’ve read about John Denver, Lee Iacocca, Jerry Weintraub, Chuck Negron, B J Thomas, Jim Bakker, Jim Jones (of Kool-Aid fame). I read about Tom Landry, Roger Staubach, Nolan Ryan (his catcher once had a pitch take the pocket off his mitt and still make it to the backstop before hitting the ground), Barry Switzer. I am working on a book about Bill Snyder now. I’ve read about George Washington, the Wright Brothers, and The Boys In The Boat who won gold at Hitler’s Games. Give me a true story any day. Nothing against fiction. It is a personal preference.
I used to wish my story was more interesting. I would read about others and wish I had coached a Super Bowl team, or presided over an automobile manufacturer. I’ve read books about the Caesars of ancient Rome. I’ve read Josephus. He reported how during the Roman siege of Jerusalem by Titus that a woman roasted her baby. She was so hungry. Jesus predicted this terrifying time.
My son gave me a book about the German invasion of Russia during World War II. Clash of the Titans. I read it. I read The Zookeeper’s Wife, The Face Of Evil (about Reynard Heydrich), Crossing Hitler (about an attorney who prosecuted Hitler before he became the Law in Germany). I read about a family who escaped Mormonism. There is so much to glean from a good biography. But I no longer wish my story was different. I am content with my lot in life, simple though it may be.
I believe I have discovered the tasks God has for me to do, and have worked on completing them. I am still underway. I am working on being a good husband. I am nearly 35 years into that project, still going at it. I hope to finish strong. I am a father of three boys, now men, and a daughter-in-law and grand children to my name. Those are important relationships. I understand that after reading about so many who have messed that up and written about it. Bob Beckel wrote his story “I Should Be Dead”. Well, we all deserve death. Good thing God is merciful and gracious.
Father in heaven, thank You for loving us, and changing our story, in Jesus’ name, Amen!
-Jeff Beall
