Star Books & Serendipity
Books come in many
different sizes and values, and with an infinite variety of ways and means in
which they can impact our lives and captivate our soul.
While we are in
the midst reading them, or are intending to read them, they largely live on low
tables somewhere or other. But after their having been ‘eaten and digested’ by
us the majority are quite happy to live out their lives on our bookshelves. But,
our most heavenly books, no, these are too lovely to be kept unseen on our
shelves. These beautiful books sit in pride of place on any appropriate table
in restful rooms in our house. They are mostly too large to fit on a shelf
anyway; but not always; there are some gorgeous tiny books to be left lying
around the place.
Perhaps, there
were books even purposely designed, not to be tucked away when finished, but to
be put on display, to bring continuing pleasure to their owners, and to any discerning
visitor.
In an
intriguing way these books are saying who their owners are. In their visible
place in our homes, they have become not the expression of their authors there,
but of us their owners: speaking of the things we are interested in, and of our
inner lives, giving out what makes us tick. Here in seemingly quiet leisure
these dynamic volumes are living out their lives as an intrinsic ‘presence’ in
the room . . . actively enhancing the room . . . contributing to its energy . .
. spiritually adding to its elegance . . . functioning in it as its mystery.
Sometimes these
volumes can be attractive tomes of pseudo antiquity; but mostly they are oversized
glossy picture books on every subject under the sun.
And,
yes, the books are changed, from time to time; especially the library books;
and that is fun seeing which books we feel to leave on the table. It is no coincidence
which we leave, or put away; there is a purpose greater than we can see in all our
actions.
Left lying
on the lower tables of our house, made for times of mind resting, these books
can touch and reach our heart better, by bypassing our mind; which has been put
on hold a little while, as we sit and rest.
And, of
course, such books have even been given a name, a genre: ‘coffee table books:’ volumes which have been pre-dedicated to their
own peaceful surrender; mildly wondering who will pick them up next? Being as
they are available not only to their owners, but to any casual observer left to
while away the time; leafing slowly and mindlessly through them, as they
perhaps wait for someone to come and talk to them? Opportunities for these
books to touch people are almost endless!
*
Star Books
I
sit – not hiding –
And
wonder – if any man will ever find me?
All
my babble is there –
Going
undefined: unreasoned
Hidden
in my opened pages –
This
book I am –
Unread
by the fearing human eye
But
of angels known – and understood
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