My Old Bible

Did you ever have something that meant so much to you; something that was a part of your everyday life; something that you didn't think you could let go of?

That “something” for me was my King James Version, Ryrie Study Bible. The time was May, 2003; and this Bible had been my “familiar friend” since August, 1987. I am certain of the dates because I wrote them down… in my Bible. Contrary to popular belief, it is not a sin to write in your Bible. If it was a sin, I would be the “chief” of sinners.

My Bible looked like a road map that had every tiny town, village, hamlet, and back road listed on it. I thought all this was normal until somebody would make a comment such as: “How in the world do you read that?”; or “Are you crazy – writing all over your Bible like that?” You'd have thought I'd committed the unpardonable sin!

I guess you could call me a “serial dater”, because every date of every day of every year (for a lot of years) was written down multiple times, by verses that meant a lot to me. Precious promises of God; other favorite verses; notes about marriage, divorce, births, deaths, personal struggles and triumphs were all written down on the flyleaves of my “familiar friend.”

I think there were a few tear stains on some pages of my old Bible. Some of the pages were torn and were starting to fall out; the cover was coming apart, but I fixed that with duct tape. I got a lot of grief from my kids about the duct tape.

I also wrote, in my old Bible some personal symbols that meant different things to me. I wrote !!! with a circle around it; that is pretty self-explanatory. Oh, but my favorite was a triangle with a small dot in the center. This symbolized The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit surrounding me. God gave me this, and it is very special to me. These symbols that God allowed me to write beside His holy scripture enhanced the importance of those words to me. I also used different colored “highlighters” for extra emphasis on some scriptures.

It finally got to the point that I knew it was time to let my old friend go.

I don't mind telling you that “retiring” my old Bible was a very hard thing to do. I went to the Christian bookstore; looked at several different Bibles; but walked out with a King James Version, Ryrie Study Bible – the same as my “old friend” – minus the dates, symbols, highlights, and other things, of course. It is now March 31, 2008; and my “new friend” has a strong resemblance to my “old friend.”

I remember watching a news show several years ago about the “Lost Boys of Sudan.” The show was about a group of mostly teenage boys that had been forced to leave their homes because of war. They had walked over 1000 miles; with only the clothes on their back, and what small amount they could carry. I think they had reached some sort of refugee camp.

A reporter was talking to one of the young men. That young man was holding a Bible, and the reporter asked why he had carried that Bible with him for over 1000 miles. The young man, grinning from ear to ear, said “Because, it is my life!”

I know what that young man meant…

Larry is a 56 year old beginning writer of spiritually based or themed short stories and articles.

What Is the Spiritual Moral / Meaning of the “My Old Bible” Story?

In the sacred journey of life, our spiritual companions come in many forms, and for the storyteller, it was the King James Version, Ryrie Study Bible. This sacred text served as a roadmap, etched with the intricate details of personal encounters with divinity. In our spiritual quest, these companions are often more than just books; they become vessels of our experiences, bearing the imprints of our journey through the sacred landscapes of existence.

Our spiritual journey, much like the narrator's, is an intimate dance with time. We mark our days, etching them into the sacred text of our lives. Each date, each event, becomes a testament to our encounters with the divine. The act of inscribing these moments on the pages of our spiritual companions transforms them into living chronicles, where time converges with the eternal, creating a sacred dialogue that transcends the temporal.

Just as the Bible in the story bore signs of wear and tear, so does our spiritual journey. The tears in the pages, the frayed edges, and the duct tape holding it together reflect the human experience of struggle and resilience. In the world of the spirit, our encounters with hardship are not signs of weakness but symbols of our strength, the very tapestry of our souls that weaves the ordinary and the extraordinary into a harmonious melody.

The symbols written in the sacred text mirror the universal language of the soul. They are the personal hieroglyphs that connect us to the divine mystery. In the story, the triangle with a dot in the center becomes a visual prayer, a symbol of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit encompassing the narrator. These symbols are not mere scribbles but sacred artistry, illustrating the connectivity between the human and the divine.

The act of letting go, as portrayed in the retirement of the old Bible, becomes a profound spiritual lesson. Our attachments to the physical, no matter how sacred, are transient. The soul's journey is not confined to the material, and sometimes letting go is the gateway to a new spiritual chapter. In the relinquishing of the old, a space is created for the new to emerge – a spiritual rebirth.

The choice to embrace the new Bible, reminiscent of the old, signifies the continuity of the spiritual journey. It is a testament to the cyclical nature of our sacred quest, where each chapter builds upon the last. The resonance between the old and the new echoes the eternal truths that remain unchanged, despite the evolving pages of our spiritual narrative.

The story of the “Lost Boys of Sudan” encapsulates a universal truth – the transformative power of faith. The young man carrying his Bible for over 1000 miles understood that this sacred text was more than just a book; it was his life. In our spiritual journey, faith becomes an unwavering companion, guiding us through the tumultuous terrain of existence. It is the anchor that keeps us grounded even when the winds of adversity blow.

As we reflect on our spiritual companions and the sacred narratives we inscribe within them, let us remember that our journey is not solitary. We walk hand in hand with the divine, and our sacred texts are the mirrors reflecting the eternal dance between the human and the divine. In this dance, we find our life's meaning, and in our spiritual companions, we discover the sacred echoes of our soul's journey.

Personal Reflection Questions

Spiritual stories are an opportunity to reflect on your own life. Here are 10 questions you can use to go deeper with the teachings in this story:

1. Reflect on the significance of personal items in your life, like the Bible was for the narrator. What object or possession holds deep personal meaning for you, and why?
2. Consider the practice of writing in books, especially sacred texts like the Bible. How do you perceive the act of adding personal notes and reflections to your spiritual or inspirational readings?
3. Explore the idea of symbols and how they can enhance the meaning of words. Have you ever created symbols or visual representations to accompany your thoughts or reflections on significant passages or teachings?
4. Contemplate the wear and tear on the old Bible as a metaphor for the passage of time and the changes in one's life. How has the physical condition of objects you hold dear reflected the journey of your own life?
5. Think about the emotions tied to parting with something that has been a constant companion. Have you experienced a similar sentiment when letting go of an object, whether due to wear and tear or other reasons?
6. Explore the role of tradition and familiarity in choosing a replacement. In the story, the narrator opts for the same type of Bible, maintaining a connection with the past. How do you approach traditions in your life, especially in moments of transition?
7. Consider the significance of dates and personal notes in the old Bible. Do you keep records or journals of your spiritual or personal journey? How do these records serve as markers of growth, change, and experience?
8. Reflect on the resilience portrayed in the story, as the Bible withstands wear and tear, and even a cover repair with duct tape. In what ways have you demonstrated resilience in your own life, especially when faced with challenges or difficulties?
9. Explore the theme of personal connection to spiritual texts. The young man in the news show referred to his Bible as his life. How would you describe your connection to spiritual or inspirational literature?
10. Contemplate the concept of a cherished object being more than just a physical item. In what ways can certain objects become symbolic representations of one's beliefs, values, or personal journey?