mechanics have wrenches, pastors have books
James Emery White writes:
But for me, it’s not just about reading – it’s about books. I agree with the monk in Normandy who, in 1170, wrote that “A monastery without a library is like a castle without an armory. Our library is our armory.”
This means we should engage in building it, fortifying it, at every opportunity. When I was in graduate school, I recall one of my professors saying that we should have a line-item in our budget for books. That building a good library is one of the most important things we can do in ministry and for impact.
I tell my own graduate students the same thing – to invest in books. They are our tools. A mechanic has his set of wrenches; a doctor has his stethoscope; a chef has his cookware. Those of us in ministry, or scholarship (and ideally they are joined at the hip), have our books.
When I “require” books for my students, my intent is simple: these are worth not only reading, but owning.
Buy them. Build your library. It is your armory.
Amen, amen. You should have seen the look on Ginger’s face the first month we were married and I forthrightly (at the time; presumptively and arrogantly in hindsight) declared that we would need to set aside $50 each month for the purchase of books. I was making $8.50 an hour. Thankfully, books seem to find their way to those who love them.
Of course, if you have a good number of books, it’s a great idea to keep them organized. I recommend LibraryThing. LibraryThing is an interactive book organizing database. The site has a number of features, but two key features I use it for are 1) keeping track of books I loan out and 2) the Early Reviewers’ Club which distributes free advance copies of books each month for review. If you are already a member, friend me here.
