WHERE IS THE TIME TO READ?

Grace Olumayowa Aideloje

The question of time always comes up when I encourage people to read. Reading is seen by many people within the confines of school education. They relate reading with academic success only, and outside that, it is a waste of time; so they relegate reading to the bottom of their priority list. I see that as misplaced priority. If they understood reading is living, they would change their priorities. 

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:”

This quotation from Hosea 4:6 got me thinking and I deduced that if you are destroyed because you lack knowledge, then you live because you have it. One major way by which you get knowledge is by reading. This knowledge transcends academic knowledge. It is an all-time, all-life knowledge that helps you through the challenges of life. Most of this kind of knowledge is not taught in schools; they are taught by life itself. Have you not heard people saying, “Life has taught me that...?”

I concluded my thoughts on Hosea 4:6 this way: “Reading enhances quality living. How much of relevant knowledge you acquire determines how well and fulfilled you will become. Knowledge enhances life and if reading enhances knowledge, then reading enhances life.”

Therefore you have to reshuffle your priority list and give reading its proper place? 
BUSY DOING WHAT? 
‘‘It is not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is: WHAT ARE YOU BUSY ABOUT?’’      -  Henry David Thoreau

Some people say, ‘I am too busy. I don't have time to read.’

That is not true. You have time. Everybody on earth has twenty four hours a day and some still have time to read. Some very busy executives read, some busy nursing mothers read, some very busy medical doctors, lecturers, pastors, presidents and administrators still find time to read.

You only have time for what you consider vital. If reading is important to you, you will find time for it.

There is a great difference between doing the good things and doing the right things. Don’t allow the good things crowd out the vitals in your life.
Myles Munroe said, “Don’t be jealous of busy people because you don’t know where they are going.”
That is true. Some people are just busy doing nothing meaningful.
What you do with your moments determines what happens to your hours; what you do with your hours determines what happens to your day; what you do with your day determines what happens to you and how you end up in life.

Invest in the moments and the hours will take care of themselves

Excerpted from my book, THE BIG DEAL ABOUT READING