I have a problem. "Too many books, too little time." That’s what the t-shirt says, and it sure applies to me.
Every summer I come home from conferences with at least 30 or 40 more books. I am occasionally sent books by publishers. I buy books I find interesting or feel will help me in my spiritual walk or improve my writing or assist me in staying organized/cleaning my house.
Books have taken over my office, my library, my bedroom, my living room, and my family room. I swear they are multiplying while I sleep. If I live to be 100, I will never read all of the books I currently own and have not yet read. And what about my "keepers," books I’ve loved and want to keep even if I won’t read them again?
I continue to think about downsizing my home, and the very thought of boxing up all of these books and moving them makes me want to climb under the covers in sheer horror. I have been taking a large box of books (mostly Christian fiction)
about every third week to a local women’s shelter. I’ve gone through
some of my Christian living section and prepared a box for the local
men’s shelter. When I get another big box, I’ll take another load.
None of the novels I’ve given away have gone unread. My mother reads all the time. But if I haven’t read them, I have to go through a wrestling match. What if that is just the book I’ll want to read a month from now? Still, I must be ruthless. I must be reasonable. And I must stop shopping at Amazon.com!!!
-rlh-
