Who…Me Read?

Who…Me Read?

After my first three years at Dundee, my predecessor Rev. Don Jordan who had taken an early retirement because of a hearing disability, called me to ask if I would be interested in his library.  He had not unpacked his books since moving them out of the pastor’s study.  Of course I told him that I would be delighted and honored to have his books (especially if he wanted to give them to me!).

Upon arrival at his house I discovered that he had some reference books which I did not have as well as about two hundred other volumes to give me.  He was trying to make the room into a guest room and needed the space.  I offered to pay him for the books, but he refused to take anything.  To make certain about the gift of the books I said, “Are you sure you want to get rid of your books?  You may want to pastor again someday.”

I shall never forget his response.  He said with a straight-face, “Many of them I haven’t read, and I don’t believe what’s in most of the ones I have read!”

I thought his statement was refreshingly honest but was somewhat surprised that he would express it.  I have thought about that statement many times since and eventually began to feel the same about my library, too!  When I retired I gave more than six hundred books to the library at Warner Southern College in Lake Wales, Florida.  Many of them I had never read, and I didn’t believe much of the information in the ones I had read!