I would have to be quicker than her. My ears would have to be as if they are stuck to the door. If I get caught, the portal would be forced shut and there would be no more magic. Oh, only if I had more time! This world is so fascinating, full of extraordinary happenstances, encounters, opportunities. It feels like this realm is sucking me in, luring me closer and closer…
Lights off.
Tick, tock. Tick, tock.
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
I hear her bedroom door shut for good.
Safe!
I reach out for my lampstand and open my mystical world up again. The warm, orange light from my lamp pours onto the pages like gold and the ends of my mouth wriggles high into a smile.
The portal reopens and it doesn’t matter the clock struck twelve.
Enchanted
Such was my enthusiasm for reading as a kid. I was so captivated by the countless new worlds, events and characters in those paperbacks, sleep was often pushed away. Knowing mom would be furious, I would stick out my ears like a rabbit so that when I hear her coming close to check, I would be able to show her my best sleeping act.
I remember reading at the dinner table, with my mum’s warnings as the background sound. I remember reading in the car, trying my best to ignore the nausea creeping towards my throat. Though I would need to stop every five seconds to check out for cars and pedestrians and the next street light I might bump into, I remember even ‘read-walking’.
Bewitched
What I do not remember is when exactly this ceased. Had I grown out of magic? Had I forgotten the charm of books?
What I know for sure is what stole me away.
My phone.
It seems impossible to imagine a world without a smartphone now. The wee devices in our hands do not only offer us communication conveniences, but limitless doors to all sorts of virtual worlds one can imagine.
Older people point at youngsters, wondering how on earth they spend hours on social media, but they have no idea how strong the pull is. A light swipe down refreshes the screen, the options, the amusement and in you fall into the endless world of content.
The most dazzling
I wonder what this device took away from others. It could be a love for writing, cooking or sketching. It could be time spent with the family, for study, for health, for creativity.
I’m sure there is God in the list, too.
Just as much as I enjoyed reading worldly books, I know I had times when I was mesmerized by His words. Whilst reading, I would often sing like the Psalmist who wrote, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalms chapter 119, verse 103).
I know that the most dazzling world awaits me in Heaven and that if I want to truly have a taste of it here on Earth, all I need to do is open the Bible portal.
The beauty is so mysterious that to some, it only looks like ordinary ink on paper, but to those that the Holy Spirit pours out His light of wisdom and understanding, Truth will shine brighter than any precious stones this world has to offer.
Father God, I want to come closer to You. I want the peace only you can offer (John chapter 14, verse 27), the love only you can give (John chapter 3, verse 16). This world is full of attractive, enchanting forces that pull me with a force I cannot overcome without your mighty hand. Renew my eyes so that I can see the hidden jewels in Your Word. Renew my heart so that I can long for what truly matters.