The other day I was in London, UK (!) out for a walk on the other side of the Thames River. I wasn\u2019t wasting time; I was wandering aimlessly with curiosity. I had about an hour or so before I was to meet a friend who I had served with as a missionary about 20 years ago. The plan was to meet at the Globe Theatre.<\/p>\n
William Shakespeare, his works I was taught were timeless and of essential value especially, to the awakening mind. Unfortunately, no longer are his writings encouraged as teaching material as a part of English literature curriculum within the education system in British Columbia. It is not easy to read a play, sure. Does Shakespeare breathe life through his words, be it play or poem? Beyond the reading and writing between the lines that Adler encourages [1], there\u2019s life all over the page and beyond the pages of Shakespeare (and, others) that can be imagined, even lived in. The reading of a play requires more than a \u2018partial reading\u2019 as Adler perceives it. Perhaps reading plays is just too difficult? Adler seems to think so.<\/p>\n
This kind of reading that calls into practice extraordinary perception and insight, is not necessary with every book or piece of writing. Adler writes that, \u201cEven when you become more skilled, you will not want to read every book with the same degree of effort. You will not find it profitable to expend all your skill on some books.\u201d [1]. Knowing the difference is important because there can be beauty-found in unforeseen places. All of sudden, in the most surprising place, a gem can be found. It can be risky to skip too quick and skim simply for the sake of finishing a \u2018less than outstanding work\u2019 or a piece that holds \u2018less importance\u2019 in the way of relative application. We are explorers aren\u2019t we, as we read?<\/p>\n
\u201cThe person who says of a novel that he has \u201cread enough to get the idea\u201d does not know what he is talking about. He cannot be correct, for if the novel is any good at all, the idea is in the whole and cannot be found short of reading the whole.\u201d [1]<\/p>\n
That day, just on the other side of the Thames (that is to say, the side that I knew a tad less than the other), I happened to walk down a street that I certainly wouldn\u2019t have had there been a map in my hands to guide me. It was a side road and it was very quiet. I noticed only a few obvious tourists on its sidewalks. On my way in the direction toward Southwark Cathedral I observed a sign, deteriorating and pressed into a rock-wall just off to the side. It was the location of the original Globe Theatre. No longer standing, the place where the original Globe once was, has been preserved. This is sacred ground.<\/p>\n
Sometimes, I wander aimlessly with curiosity through a book. I used to wander or float as if in clouds through the plays of Shakespeare as well. Admittedly, it was sometimes a guided wandering with help through the curiosities. I think I would like to read a couple lines again and find if I should come across something of the original, something of the ancient-sacred. A place perhaps down a side-road, along a sidewalk no longer walked by many, whereby a gem of old might stand-out suddenly and inspire the birth of a new thing.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
[1]\u00a0Van Doren, Charles. How to Read a Book (A Touchstone Book). Touchstone. Kindle Edition.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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