Fallen and Flawed

While I love to read, it is most often torturous for me. At the least I suffer ADD, with perhaps a touch of Asperger’s Syndrome & dyslexia thrown in. Everything external distracts me, sounds, flickers of movement, lighting changes and, even if all those can be stabilized, my thoughts run amok much of the time– a word or phrase can sidetrack my thinking in a heartbeat. I am often reluctant to begin reading, anticipating the ordeal of trying to stay on track.

Still, I enjoy reading because of the benefit of learning, although my education by perusal comes slower than for most. Perhaps that makes whatever gain I enjoy all the sweeter. Needless to say, I have little to offer the average reader in the way of advice in technique inasmuch as my technique is fundamentally survival of bedlam.

There is one thing, however, that may be of benefit: text marking. This practice I reserve, for reasons I trust are obvious, for non-fiction. I employ highlighters for key sentences or phrases, headings, and any letters or numerals used by authors to denote an outline, changing colors with degrees of sub-headings. I also use pencil (never pen, because I sometimes rethink what I’ve done) to connect modifiers to their objects and verbs. This is especially useful where sentences are long, as in the Bible, writings from past centuries (e.g early church fathers, puritans, etc.), and translations from other languages. I am a frequent marker, so that many of my pages end up resembling spiderwebs with the dew upon them refracting the rainbow hues of the morning sun. One great advantage to this is that when I return to a book, to reread it or to reference something, and I notice an area of print that I did not previously mark I am drawn to that section, eager to discover what I missed the last time(s) through.

What sustains me through the natural discouragement that accompanies my disability is the knowledge that God made me as I am and that He will answer my prayer for wisdom through His limitless gifts of Christ Jesus and His Holy Spirit, freely given to all who, by His grace, believe in Him.

Amen, Al. And I like your spider-web technique. It is especially needed when you are dealing with ultra-long sentence or non-modern books! Thank you!

Al, your dedication to reading God’s Word in the face of such obstacles is astounding! It certainly drives a lazy goof like me to her knees in conviction.

If you haven’t already got one, have you considered investing in a loose-leaf Bible? I’m seriously thinking of getting one as my next Bible resource. You can take out each individual Book, as well as adding your own pages of notes.

My son is bipolar and has ADHD and a sensory processing disorder. And he also loves to read; he’s in First Grade but his reading aptitude is at least a Fifth Grade level. His favorite spot to read is in bed, so we set his bunk bed up so that it’s cave-like. It’s set against the wall with thick curtains enclosing most of it, and a soft-light lamp hanging inside. Having such a close and comforting area helps him focus and calm his thoughts.

God bless you, Al! Keep up the good work, and fight the fine fight of the faith!

Denita, you are a princess for you have just fed me the kind of straightline I lie awake nights hoping for…

A looseleaf Bible? Yes, of course, but I’m torn on the matter: On the one hand I know that 2Tim.2:9 says “the word of God is not bound,” but on the other hand I’m concerned about having a loose canon!

Oh, thank you, dear Sister!

And, seriously, I love what you’ve done to help your son– wish I’d had that kind of encouragement as a boy!

God bless…

Al…you have a good sense of humor!

Al…you have a good sense of humor!

There! Take that, all you who think I have no sense at all!

Thank you, Daniel.

Demian, I can tell you are a critical thinker due to your 3rd suggestion on “How to write in a book” from your post “How to absorb a book into your bloodstream”:

3. Write questions or comments in the margin.

Notice the comment “write questions” and not merely comments.

Critical thinkers write questions.

Safe thinkers simply write comments.

Al, you are such a CARD!

Jonathan, I never thought about it that way. Very interesting. I guess I don’t want to take anything for granted. Thank you for the comment.

Al: You are a card!

D,
Always like these reading/writing posts. Thanks!

Not sure all my reading makes me wise, unless you count being a wiseguy.

Richard: See Al’s comment above. There’s some truth to what you say.

Tom Cruise have dyslexia and yet he is still a very successful actor.:”