Whether you’re an avid reader or an occasional one, the power of fiction is something we’ve all experienced at some point. And it’s not just about entertainment; it’s about the transformative influence stories can have on our faith, our families, and our understanding of ourselves. Fiction isn’t just something we should feel like we’re indulging in. Fiction is one of the most powerful ways we can grow as a person and as a community.
Faith: A Complex Conversation
Imagine the feeling when you’re deep into a novel, and a character grapples with questions of faith that you, too, have pondered…maybe even issues that you’ve been pondering recently. It’s uncanny, isn’t it? And as you flip those pages, you find yourself desperate to see how the characters handle the questions that you, too, have asked. They may be questions you hadn’t even known how to put words to, or questions so personal that you had no idea how to look it up or seek advice. But in those characters, in that story, you find encouragement and wisdom. You find other people who wrestled with a problem and found strength through faith. Fiction has a way of delving deep into intricate spiritual questions in a way that feels approachable, which in turn helps readers to explore their beliefs. Whether it reinforces your convictions or challenges them, fiction creates a safe space for spiritual exploration.
Family: A Reflection in Literature
Family is a universal theme in literature, for good reason. Even when a story is set in a world far removed from your own, the dynamics of the relationships are often strikingly familiar. By diving into these narratives, readers can gain fresh perspectives on their own family lives—views that ar e often more insightful than what we could achieve through countless conversations around the dinner table, because they don’t just look at everything from one point of view (our own). These narratives invite us into the hearts and minds of others and helps us open our eyes to what those we love best might be experiencing. Fiction can show us the truth of our families in a way our own simple observations often fail to do. And then, in turn, it helps us open up new dialogue with them.
Self-Discovery: A Pathway Through Pages
When you poll fiction readers on WHY they read, one of the most popular answers is “escape.” And that makes sense…we all need an escape from the everyday. And yet, fiction is a lot more than JUST an escape. Novels are windows into other possibilities. A well-crafted narrative can make us consider choices we’ve never thought of and outcomes we’ve never imagined. Fiction puts us into the heart and head of someone else–something nothing else in our lives can ever quite achieve. Through those pages into which we “escape,” we in fact encounter situations we otherwise never will, to see the world and the people in it in new ways. Opinions and stances that immediately make us defensive or offended in regular conversation can look very different when we’re experiencing those things through someone else’s eyes. And that leaves us with questions to ponder, ideas to explore, empathy and understanding we hadn’t had before we opened that book. Fiction isn’t just an escape–it’s a a catalyst for personal growth, urging us to explore who we are…and who we want to become.
Mindfulness: The Hidden Perk of Reading
Let’s be honest—life gets overwhelming. While many look to mindfulness practices like meditation to find balance, there’s a case to be made for reading as a form of meditation. A good book allows you to step outside your immediate concerns and immerse yourself in a different world. It’s an invitation to be present, which is one of the most understated benefits of picking up a novel. Reading fiction can clear our heads of the worries clouding them, helping us to put our own concerns into perspective after living for a while in someone else’s shoes and dealing with their concerns. And thanks to the wide variety of reading available, we always know there’s a book out there promising exactly what we need in each day. Books can help us laugh, make us cry, take us away, or ground us.
Community: Shared Stories, Shared Connections
Maybe reading seems like a solitary endeavor, and it certainly can be. But what’s the first thing you do when you finish a book you absolutely LOVE? You tell someone about it! Better still is if a friend is already reading it too, or already has. When we share books with friends, we don’t just have parallel experiences–we open a door to community. Shared conversation on stories and the subjects they bring up not only help us understand the book on a deeper level, it helps us understand each other on a deeper level. Maybe you’re part of a book club, or maybe you’re simply sharing a favorite book with a friend. Either way, that common experience is like going on a literary journey together. And at the end of that journey, you’ll all have a deeper, richer understanding–both of the story and of each other. It’s the kind of experience that you’ll want to embark on again as soon as you’ve finished one leg of the journey!
Closing Thoughts
The impact of a good story extends far beyond the final page. Whether challenging our faith, deepening our family relationships, spurring personal growth, encouraging mindfulness, or building community, fiction enriches our lives in countless ways. So, the next time you pick up a novel, remember: You’re not just reading a story. You’re embarking on a journey that could well change your life.
