Dear Nero,
I'm delighted you wrote me. We've spent eras apart, but it's good
to see the passing of time hasn't hindered the fellowship of angels. Indeed,
this place has not been the same without you. I hope all that field-work hasn't
carried your head too far into the clouds. With any providence - things are
going well on your end.
I can tell from your letter that you've exercised much patience
with your Child, but it's apparent you're getting frustrated. You mentioned
he's never taken to books. That he spends most of his time in play or somatic
strain. Such is the way leisure is spent these days. How I miss the breeze of
pages turning, of words manifesting inspiration and ideas, the knowledge that
gave rise to spirited discussion. Those were the foods that filled our bellies,
that lavished our tables and blessed our banquets. In the meantime, we have
little left to chew but the lesser meats of Hillsong.
How ironic that humans wish to know everything, understand and
comprehend all, yet never visit the library. Ironic? Perhaps 'tragic' is
bettered suited. Before you were even given a Child to nurture, He ordained
learning as a sacred pursuit. To some it has become little more than classroom
drudgery.
Already we've already identified part of the problem. A person is
rigorously educated for the first twenty years of their time. Once that ends,
they're so excited to be free of books and learning - the only reading
they get comes from advertisements. There are cases where a Child has
never picked up a book again. They view learning as a period, not a lifestyle.
Who still knows the ancient classics? Who's witnessed the beauty
of Dickens? Knows
the pain that wrote Heart of Darkness? Remembers the ink of Marco
Polo's journal? Heaven laments.
Our enemy is particularly adept at this. As well as the above, he
takes joy in using the sacred texts against those who read it. He twists and
pulls, convincing them that anything different or fantastic somehow dishonours
Him. There is a wealth of literature that some Children refuse to read,
believing it to be righteousness and in doing so miss 'The Great Conversation'.
That global forum where we desperately need them - connecting with the dialogues
taking place in dynamic culture.
I heard of a chap, Sam I believe, who set out to read the Twilight series for this
very reason. I tell you if only one of those books were finished - the
compensation he'd receive in Heaven would be abundantly more than his
suffering.
I managed to catch up with Malachi last week - only took forty
years to find him. He told me how he'd introduced himself to a freshman and
asked the man if he'd read his book. Crickets could not chirp any louder.
How awkward.
If you want your child to read, Nero, don't be forceful. Be
suggestive - give him the idea. Start with the classics, the books that will
captive his dormant motivation. The rest are dominoes.
May this letter find you well.
P.S Don't let them know we stole all the twinkies.
Your endearing flat-mate,
- Leon
