At the beginning of 2007, I set out with one "resolution": To read the Bible straight through in a year. Well, I didn't do it in a year but a year and 6 weeks. Today I finished the Good Book from cover to cover.
It was a most remarkable thing, something that was a real blessing to me in more ways than I can describe here. But there is certainly something very special about reading the Bible straight through. I even read all the Old Testament names in the "begat" chapters, making sure I didn't skip a single word.
The version I read was "The One Year Chronological Bible: New Living Translation."
I had a very nice daily routine, reading about 15 to 30 minutes every morning. I'd get a cup of coffee, turn on the TV to the HD Theater channel and its "Sunrise Earth" program -- with low or no sound, the show is one hour of uninterrupted footage of the sunrise from different parts of the world. No narration or commercials, only ambient sound.
Each morning I'd wonder, where are we going to read the Bible today? One day it would be an Alaskan plains, the next day a park in China, the next day an Amazon rain forest.
My dog(s) would sit beside me or at my feet as I read. When we watched my daughter's dog, Lulu, she always climbed onto my legs and stretched out there while I read.
This has become such a blessed time of day that I want to continue the morning routine in some fashion. I'm not sure whether I'll start the Bible again, or read other inspirational works. But I'm glad to have kept a resolution and I know it was a blessing in many ways. Even if it did take me a little longer than planned.
I encourage anyone out there who is thinking about doing this to go ahead and give it a try. After a few weeks you'll know if it's something you really want to follow through with. And you don't have to wait for Jan. 1, you can start any day of the year.
Sylvania, Ohio
Feb. 18, 2007