Monday, September 10, 2012

Reading for my Heart

Guarding my heart means watching what I put into my heart. A big part of that for me is what I read. I love to learn. I have a mind that traps bits and pieces of relevant and useless information. I usually have multiple books going at a time: a spiritual life book to grow my relationship with Jesus; a history book that feeds my love for learning; a business or leadership book that stretches me; and often something dealing with my physical health.

Here's what I'm reading right now:

In the "spiritual life" category, I'm almost finished with Timothy Keller's Generous Justice. Keller thinks deeply from a Biblical foundation. This is a challenging book about how the work of God's grace naturally leads us to live "justly." It's a book about how Jesus calls us to live out grace in the real world of today. Keller has really stretched my thinking on subjects ranging from racism to poverty to immigration and more.

To feed my love of "history," I'm reading Setting the World Ablaze, by John Ferling. The book follows Washington, Adams & Jefferson before, during & after the Revolutionary years, looking at their intertwined lives and their personal aspirations as leaders of the grand American experiment. It was a lot of fun reading this book while sitting in the "drawing room" of my 1769 Bed & Breakfast in Philadelphia, located across from the City Tavern these men frequented (see Philadelphia posts in my Sabbatical Blog). 

To grow my "leadership" I'm reading What Got You Here Won't Get You There, by Marshall Goldsmith. This is similar to both The Next Level and 9 Things You Simply Must Do that I read earlier this summer. Goldsmith, however, seems to take things to a greater depth, listing 20 habits that hold us back from continued success. I'm not very far into it, but I'm looking forward to the challenge.

For leadership I also read articles using Flipboard on my iPad. I follow Harvard Business Review and Fast Company, both of which grow the leadership part of my heart. I'll read them, capture them in Evernote and choose some to share with my staff and Board.

The information we choose to read acts as a filter for our hearts. Fill our lives with junk - pornography - violence - juicy romance - images of infidelity - and our hearts will become fat, out of shape, unable to hold firm in the face of temptation. Instead when I know who I am - a learner who enjoys Colonial era history - and knowing my needs - to grow my heart for Jesus and be a better leader - I can choose to fill my heart with things that will strengthen my core.

Who are you? What are you feeding your heart? What are you reading?


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