Often in life we don’t fully realize the value of something
until we don’t have it. Every time the
electricity is interrupted, we are reminded how much we depend on it. The same
thing happens when we no longer can read.
As writers, especially, our lives pivot on words and weaving
those words to tell stories, to share experiences, to encourage, teach and
enlighten. I often tell people I need to
read as much as I need to eat in order to stay healthy. Probably many of you do too. To create a card
or write a note, finding words to say exactly what I want to convey, is one of
the richest experiences I can think of.
It only gets better if the person it’s meant for truly gets the message
and lets it sink into their hearts.
In the past few months, I’ve had the privilege of going
every other week to the Day Centre for Seniors that I helped bring into being,
but haven’t been involved in for several years now. I spend about an hour reading to a group of
five to ten. Most of those are avid
readers who can no longer see the printed pages. The look on their faces and the smiles of
appreciation make it very rewarding. It’s almost like serving a full meal to a
starving person. They are truly grateful
to hear short stories, poems or personal experience accounts and then to chat
about what feelings were raised in their hearts with the reading.
Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider has been a big hit at those
readings, as well as other anthologies with short, personal stories. Last week I took some of my old readers from
public school and read a few of the favorites I’ve read probably hundreds of
times. That brought back a lot of good
memories to share. Magazines provide
interesting articles and sometimes the internet sends something my way that I
must read to my little audience.
Whatever I read to them, they seem to like it best if I
include some of my own writings. I can
already see that I will have added incentive to write about what I observe so I
can share it with them. There is another
advantage to that. When I read aloud
what I have written to a rapt audience, I hear it through different ears. It becomes a good editing experience. I see where
I need more explanation or description.
I suddenly become aware of repetition of words, or superfluous trails I
sometimes take. Bless my listeners; they
are very tolerant of those. It doesn’t
seem to take away from their enjoyment, but it adds to the fine-tuning of my
craft.
So, to the readers of this blog, I’d like to put out a
challenge to you. You may have a Seniors
Day Centre near you, you probably have nursing homes not far away and almost
certainly you have senior neighbours or fellow church members who may have
trouble reading. Seek out an opportunity
in one or more of these, set aside a day a week or every other week, and share
your writing with someone who can no longer see well enough to do it
themselves. Can you imagine how many people’s lives could be enriched if each
writer would pledge to do this? If you
would like helpful comments or critique on your writing, you can probably get
it just by asking. Many of your
listeners are competent and well read. If they are retired teachers, editors or
writers themselves, they can give good pointers and valuable feed-back. Their age and insights will give you an
additional advantage. That will be added profit for both of you—you will
improve your writing, and they will have the satisfaction of using their
talents in a meaningful way.
The greatest gift of all, will be the relationships you form
with people who have lived rich and full lives and who have a great deal to
share with us if we are open to listen too!
It will be a good way to give and receive wonderful words of life.
