Writers through the ages describe it by so many names – a great mental exercise, one’s best and cheerful companion, a limitless travel into space and time, an effectual comforter, the greatest gift and, in the words of my favorite philosopher, Rene Descartes, “it’s like a conversation with the finest men of the past centuries.” 

Such is reading, which prompted poet Ralph Waldo Emerson to pen, “A man is known by the books he reads” and Chinese teacher and philosopher Confucius to remind us: “No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.”

Another writer, Anne Rice, strengthened the thought on the value of reading when she wrote in one of her masterpiece volumes:  “give me a man or woman who has read a thousand books and you give me an interesting companion. Give me a man or woman who has read perhaps three and you give me a dangerous enemy indeed.”  Anthony Trollope shared: “The habit of reading is the only enjoyment in which there is no alloy; it lasts when all other pleasures fade.” 

Writer Ronald Dahl, in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, may be asking for the impossible, especially in these days of iPods, movie phone and other hi-tech gadgets, when he wrote: “So please, oh PLEASE, we beg, we pray, Go throw your TV set away, And in its place you can install, A lovely bookshelf on the wall.”  The plea is one we take as a reminder for us not to abandon the gift of reading books in this day and age when other forms of entertainment come more handily and with less mental effort.

Negrenses’ love and passion for reading a higher plane with the arrival once more of MV Doulos which dropped anchor at the Bredco Port on Friday and will stay until March 2. Dubbed as the world’s largest floating library, the ship, which promotes the Gospel of God’s love, brings to the city a wide collection of volumes sold at affordable prices.

Its international crew are living testimonials of how God’s love transform people and how their love for God can lead them to literally sail the challenging seas to bring knowledge, wisdom, compassion and care to the people of the world regardless of their colors, faith and persuasions.

And writing of love for an issue that circulates a day after Valentine’s Day, we, at StarLife, are sharing with you other stories of love – that of a mother and friends for a talented and promising young man who is battling a sudden case of leukemia. We have another story of love – that of a couple, who have translated their love for sports into a formidable formula for championship titles in their discipline – in fact, overtaking their former mentors’  performances in regional and national meets.

We leave with you this thought as we end the celebration of Valentine this year and reiterate the value of reading as pointed out by Ray Bradbury when he wrote: You don’t have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them.”

We have the choice to help build a culture.

Thanks, Doulos!