Tuesday, December 02, 2008

I'm High!

Reading the bible is a powerful drug.

It's a known fact that there are many physiological and mental benefits to exercise. But what of the merits of bible reading?

Okay. So, I've reached a crucial mile marker in my trek through the bible. However, with only thirty days and forty three books to the finish line, I am seriously starting to have some doubts about whether I'll be able to deliver. This intensely lengthy reading has stretched me to my physical and spiritual limits.

Despite the challenges, one thing is certain: The pace has emboldened me. I have attained the reader's equivalent of what marathon junkies often refer to as the runner's high.

I've read through the bible before, but I've never tread so vigorously. The exhilaration drives me. But what triggers the high?

Maybe it's the daily 2 to 3 hour reading schedule, which affords untapped opportunities for making connections and cross references like never before. For example, just yesterday, I read Isaiah's prophecy of God's impending judgement on Israel after repeated failures to keep the perfect law of God. I can recall with clarity their fall from grace, under who's leadership, and by who's hands, because I had read about it just days before in the Chronicles. Or, perhaps it is the promise of accomplishing what is, for me at least, the impossible--the bible in 60 days (yikes, what was I thinking).

I feel as though I am working at my maximum potential, and the sky's the limit. Still maybe there is a more practical explanation for what I am experiencing. Possibly there is something to the whole mind body connection, because my endorphins are flying all over the place, and I'm feeling loopy.

It could be that this is all in my head, but this bible reading euphoria can best be summed up by a famous lick from Grateful Dead's "Truckin'": What a long strange trip it's been.

6 comments:

Lisa P said...

I love that you're doing this. And it IS crazy, but I've thought about you so many times. Keep it up! And isn't Isaiah wild? The descriptions of God are crazy!

Kristi said...

Dionne -could you send me or post the schedule that you've been on? I wanna get high too! :)

woosterweester said...

Love it! So inspiring! Yes, will you share the schedule with the rest of us? I'm finishing up through my read through and would like a fresh way to tackle the next one. You go girl!

Dionne Sincire said...

Lisa,
Isaiah must have been a freak to the rest of the world. His prophecies seem like such a departure from what everyone else was doing at that time.

Kristi,
We doubled up on the Bible in 90 Days' reading schedule. So their day 30 is our day 60. The pace is something like 45 minutes of reading a day . We do anywhere from 2-3 hours a day where ever we can fit it in (early morning, during breaks, in the evenings).

Wooster,
Thanks for the encouragement. I feel like going on, and on..... :)

Elaine said...

Yes! Keep it up. and keep writing about it.

Erika Mills said...

way to go!! an inspiration for me.

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