Lakefront Reading

I enjoy reading along the shores of Lake Michigan. It certainly beats my school library. One reason I enjoy the lakefront is that it is generally one of the cooler places in Chicago on a summer day. In fact, the temperature difference between the lakefront and other areas of the city can be quite significant, even 10 or more degrees.

There are also many interesting people to watch at the Lake. Families come to swim and grill, people walk their dogs and ride bicycles, and other people come to stroll or enjoy a restful afternoon. In fact the people can often be the greatest hindrance to thorough concentration, but these interruptions can often provide an opportunity to reflect on the reading material.

This summer I have been enjoying some of the writings of Henri Nouwen. Often the writings of Catholic authors are overlooked by Protestants, but I am thankful for several friends who have recommended his writings to me. This weekend I took Nouwen's Life of the Beloved to the shore and reflected on thougts about brokenness. Reading about brokenness while in the presence of people helped me to understand better the ways in which our lives are broken.