Giving and receiving books as gifts is generally great but sometimes it can be awkward. What kind of book do you choose for a Christian (young Christian, teenage Christian, young adult Christian, mature Christian, Pastor, etc.)? How about for a wayward Christian? A non-Christian (interested or indifferent to the gospel)? What do you buy for a friend? What do you buy for a co-worker? What do you buy for a neighbor or a church member? What do you buy for someone who has "just about every good book" already?
I've been thinking about this recently because I like to ask for books or book money for Christmas. I don't always find takers on the proposition, but this year, so far, I have. My mother-in-law, along with a tangible gift, gave me some extra money. I knew exactly what I wanted, immediately, so that was an awesome present.
Just this past weekend we welcomed a friend into our home for a few days. He told us a little bit about his search for a gift for my wife and I for housing him for a few days. She received chocolates. (Can you ever go wrong with chocolates?) And, I received a recently published book by one of my former seminary professors--The Beauty of Holiness: A Guide to Biblical Worship, by Michael P. V. Barrett (Greenville, SC: Ambassador International, 2006). This was an exceellent choice, although he said that he was concerned about what to choose, not knowing which books I already have.
At work this week, we had a gift exchange. It's tough enough buying for family, and it's even harder for me to select an appropriate gift for a co-worker. Last year I gave away a small book by John Piper, For Your Joy, to some of the guys I work with. I never got any feedback from them as to whether they ever read the book. If not then, I hope that they have held on to it and that they will read it some other time. Anyway, I wish that I had a sense that they would actually read a good book if I spent the money to purchase something larger. (Maybe, I over-anylize the situation.) What is interesting is that both last year and this year I received books. I was delighted to see that they figured out something I would really appreciate. However, the books have tended to be curious picks.
I've been thinking about this recently because I like to ask for books or book money for Christmas. I don't always find takers on the proposition, but this year, so far, I have. My mother-in-law, along with a tangible gift, gave me some extra money. I knew exactly what I wanted, immediately, so that was an awesome present.
Just this past weekend we welcomed a friend into our home for a few days. He told us a little bit about his search for a gift for my wife and I for housing him for a few days. She received chocolates. (Can you ever go wrong with chocolates?) And, I received a recently published book by one of my former seminary professors--The Beauty of Holiness: A Guide to Biblical Worship, by Michael P. V. Barrett (Greenville, SC: Ambassador International, 2006). This was an exceellent choice, although he said that he was concerned about what to choose, not knowing which books I already have.
At work this week, we had a gift exchange. It's tough enough buying for family, and it's even harder for me to select an appropriate gift for a co-worker. Last year I gave away a small book by John Piper, For Your Joy, to some of the guys I work with. I never got any feedback from them as to whether they ever read the book. If not then, I hope that they have held on to it and that they will read it some other time. Anyway, I wish that I had a sense that they would actually read a good book if I spent the money to purchase something larger. (Maybe, I over-anylize the situation.) What is interesting is that both last year and this year I received books. I was delighted to see that they figured out something I would really appreciate. However, the books have tended to be curious picks.
Last year, I received Living the God Life, by John Ortberg. It's definitely, light on theology, but I said that I would read it and I have, indeed, read much of it.
This year, was far more curious, if not awkward, regarding one book. I received two books from a co-worker who is an avid reader. This co-worker does not evidence any saving work of Christ, but knows that I am a Christian and that I am active in our church's ministry. The first book is a novel by Nicholas Sparks, Three Weeks with My Brother. I've never read anything by him, but I will read this out of gratitude for the gift. Besides, it's been a long time since I've read a good novel. I hope this proves to be good.
The second, more curious, book is Infinite Life: Seven Virtues for Living Well, by Robert Thurman with a forward by "His Holiness" the Dalai Lama. Thurman is a Western Tibetan Buddhist and in this book he introduces "seven Buddhist virtues for carefully reconstructing body and mind in order to reduce the negative consequences and cultivate the positive in our lives."
Well, what was I to say, as I stood in the midst of all of my co-workers reading the table of contents and cover of this new book. "This looks interesting," is all I could come up with. Well, I'm not sure why I ever felt awkward about giving a good Christian book to a non-Christian. For my co-worker it seemed to be perfectly appropriate to give me a book on "religion." Even though it has nothing to do with Christianity.
I guess, that it's not so much that I would expect a hateful, unappreciative verbal response from a non-Christian if I were to give them a thoroughly Christian book. Rather, I suppose that I fear that they would look at it and think like I did regarding the book Infinite Life, "here's a waste of a perfectly good tree," or "what a shame if this co-worker really believes this."
Well, I hope that you will consider giving a book to someone this holiday season. I really do think that the kinds of books you give away communicate volumes about yourself.
Well, I hope that you will consider giving a book to someone this holiday season. I really do think that the kinds of books you give away communicate volumes about yourself.
So, what kind of books have you received from others? What awkward situations have you been in with book gifts? I'd be glad to hear from you!!!
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