The book I read was an American classic called The Yearling, by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (no, not related to J.K. Rowling). I had never read it in my youth, and I heard someone recommend it this past summer, so I put my stack of other books on hold and jumped in. What I discovered was beautiful. The storytelling, the language, the picture of a young boy growing into adulthood, his parents’ faithful response to hardship, the thrill of adventure, and the meaning of family and neighbors. I discovered that reading this book was not mere entertainment; it caused me to really think and feel. Among other things, I thought about my childhood and the kind I want for my children. Without trying to extract something from it, the book affected me in a subtle way that’s hard to articulate.
I will sometimes approach God's Word the same way, where I'll try to squeeze every bit of application out of it. I’ll read a passage and think: "I need to work on that. I need to share that with___. I could use that for teacher devotions. I could use that in a speech." But, I must remind myself of the value of simply reading God’s Word. After all, it is a story! I can read it like a book. Immerse myself in God’s story. See into His mind. In doing so, I will read for the sake of enjoying, seeing, savoring, beholding, worshipping, and thereby changing into His likeness.
At Trinity, we have designed our program to teach to the whole child: heart, mind, soul, and strength. We teach them how to create art and how to appreciate great works of art, to find inspiration in beholding. We could say the same about science and math-- that students would not only memorize a formula but also wonder at its proof; not only learn the scientific rules that govern nature but also ponder the wisdom and order they display. And, the same goes with reading. May our students not see reading merely as a pragmatic means of getting the information they need. Rather, we hope they learn to love reading and be changed by it.
Stephen Sprague
Headmaster