Literary Profile

Thinking back to my childhood I remember not just one exposure to reading but several. My parents never read bedtime stories to us but my dad would play old hymns on the guitar while I sang words with more meaning then I was able to fully grasp just yet. Those memories are brought back every time I sing As a Deer Panteth, when I hear those words I can close my eyes and visualize my bedroom where my love for literature was born. I can remember picking up my first Dr. Seuss book and being blown away by the colorful and rather clever rhyming scheme. I fell in love with reading after this and began to pick up book after book to satisfy this growing hunger within. I then stumbled upon Rainbow fish and Where the Wild Things are. Picture after picture, line after line I was consumed.

Recently I have been reading A Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson. It is quite a change from Oh the Places You'll Go, and the emotions that I receive from this book are a little different but the literature is just as alive. It is about the Holy Spirit and as I read these pages I feel His presence so strongly. It encourages me to continuously pray and go after the adventures the Lord places on my heart.

I remember picking up The Way of the Heart by Henri Nouwen I had no idea the impact that this book would leave on me. It was a summer assignment that changed the way I looked at prayer. It took a look at Brother Lawrence and the desert fathers in a way that I had never explored before. These men withdrew themselves from comfort, from what was familiar to be completely alone with the Lord. They devoted themselves to prayer and time with the Lord, even if that meant relinquishing their words and listening to His. This book discusses prayer, silence, and solitude. Every word was inspiring and convicting all at the same time. Books like this just reestablished my love for words.

When I first read the assigned reading I thought it would be another general piece of information that I couldn't get much out of. However, it was very descriptive and the passion for writing and literature was clearly shown. I was able to break down not only the grading process, but what was expected to be gained out of the class. I thought it was informative and thankfully it answered questions I had previous to reading it.