Our Book Friends

Erasmus (d. 1536) supposedly said, “When I have a little money, I buy books; and if I have any left, I buy food and clothes.” I have loved books for a long time—not that much--but still a lot.

This week one of our daughters brought me a box of “little books,” ones that didn’t make it when moved to a new location back in June. I told her there was something comforting about the reunion, like being back with some old friends.

I call them my “little books” because most of them  are in the 4.25 x 7 inch format as opposed to the  5.5 x 8.5 inch format popular today for smaller books (see I am book nerd). A majority of them were bought in ‘60s and ‘70s when such little books were in vogue. Several of the CS Lewis books have the price of $.95 on the cover. The Bonhoeffer book says $1.45 and neither of these were used. My approximately sixty little volumes fit nicely in the small bookshelf that holds them.

What is significant for me about this group is that they represent some of the greatest influences on my thinking and life during the formative period in my twenties and early thirties.

If you have read In Search of a City, you know that there were two of these that were unrivaled in their impact on me: “Mere Christianity” by Lewis and “The Cost of Disciple(ship” by Bonhoeffer. From time to time, 53 years later, I still benefit from reading selections from them both. Bonhoeffer’s chapter (written when he was 31) on loving enemies in the Sermon on the Mount has hugely affected my view of the nature of the Kingdom of God and was a major influence on my latest volume on the Kingdom, subtitled “Learning War No More.”

I could not locate my original copy of “Mere” but my copy of it and “The Cost” were bought in 1967 at Anderson’s Books in Florence, Alabama. Anderson’s was first opened in 1917, almost exactly 50 years before my purchases. Now another 50 plus years later you may know Anderson’s as Books-a-Million, with 260 stores. (We are getting deep in the weeds! Yes, book nerd.)

But books can be amazing. Blaise Pascal’s Pensees,”written in the 1600s (and one of my little books) is still a valued friend. I have shared the prayer he prayed in his illness and physical challenges with countless numbers of people because I felt it saved my life. 

All kinds of people love books, but for the Kingdom-seeking, Jesus-follower they often have moved us from one stage to another in our spiritual formation. They do in fact become old friends who have mentored and challenged and nurtured us. I saw this quote on Facebook this week: "To claim that God does not change does not mean that our understanding of God should never change.”  Our understanding of God, our understanding of how he works and our understanding of how his presence transforms us needs to be constantly growing (read: changing).

One of my little books is titled Your God Is Too Small (little book but big title). Only a false and way-too-small god can be understood completely in our first year or two (or 10 or 20 years) as disciples. Much growth comes from relationships, sermons, classes, and just moments of solitude, but surely many of us have greatly grown in our understanding of God through books—little ones and big ones.

My reunion with those sixty or so little volumes this week was a serendipitous gift. I hope you have some friends like them. And if you don’t, do not feel bad: it is not too late.

But in thinking about writing this piece, I have been excited (and that is right word) about asking for some of your feedback. Can you take a moment and post on my Facebook, your response to these questions?  Facebook link

1.     What year do you remember buying your first significant spiritual book? You may have to use “circa.”

2.     What book greatly influenced you in your first year or two as a Jesus-follower?

3.     What book has been a special friend during your journey with Jesus and when did you first read it?

4.     What was the last book that made a major impact on your spiritual thinking?

5.     What book of fiction, biography or memoir has made a significant impact on you?

My answers:

1.     1967

2.     The Lewis and Bonhoeffer books I mentioned

3.     “A Path Through Suffering” by Elizabeth Elliott; circa 1992

4.     “Surprised by Hope,” by N.T. Wright  (and many others by him)

5.     “Lincoln's Melancholy” by J. W. Shenk

Let’s enjoy each other’s responses and let’s keep reading.