“You’re the same today as you’ll be in five years except for the people you meet and the books you read.”  Charlie “Tremendous” Jones

What book are you reading currently?  What did you read last month?

Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.  (Acts 8:30, NIV)

Revisited, huh?  Does that mean that you’re normal now?  No, not at all.  I still believe that it is an incredible compliment when someone tells us we’re not normal.  I titled this “Revisited” because last November, I wrote a two-part series entitled “You’re Not Normal” (DG 11/16/07 and 11/19/07).  I was reminded of those DGs when I received the following in an email “sales” letter:

“You’re not normal because you like to read.  Guess what?  Most people don’t.  Take a look at these sad facts, which are a bit outdated and are most likely even sadder in 2008.
58% of the US adult population never reads another book after high school.
42% of college graduates never read another book.
80% of US families did not buy or read a book last year.
70% of US adults have not been in a bookstore in the last 5 years.
57% of new books are not read to completion.
Most readers do not get past page 18 in a book they have purchased.
And yet, there’s a book that’s been written on just about any topic you can think of.”

As an avid reader, I find those statistics incredible.  And since you, one of our DG readers, are reading this…I can only conclude that you are a reader as well.  Therefore, you’re not normal either!!!  Hallelujah!!!  Who even wants to be normal these days?

That’s it!  No deep and profound message here other than I thought you would find those numbers as amazing as I did.  Rejoice in (and flaunt) your abnormalities for the rest of the day.

PS…I’ve successfully escaped the allure of Harry Potter, but Today’s Link seems to describe what “normal” adults think about reading.  BTW, I had no clue as to what a muggle is, let along an adult muggle.  The Internet to the rescue…”A ‘muggle’ is a human, non-magical person.”

Prayer Power
Lord, thank You for making each of as totally individual.  Forgive us for for those times when we focus more on pleasing others in our attempt to be “normal” than we do on pleasing You.

Link of the Day
Harry Potter and the Reading Habits of Adult Muggles

Blessings on you as you relax with a good book tonight.