Lent Day 14, Tuesday, March 3, 2026

“Read for One Hour”

Today is National Read Across America Day, often called Dr. Seuss Day, in honor of his birthday in 1904.

Does Dr. Seuss deserve his own day? Perhaps. His books have sold in the hundreds of millions and have inspired plays, musicals, films, and television programs. Where would we be without The Cat in the Hat? How many of us first learned the courage to try something new because of Green Eggs and Ham? And can the holiday season even arrive without at least a passing nod to the Grinch?

For many of us, Dr. Seuss was among the first authors we ever read. When those scholastic book order forms arrived at school, his name was always near the top of the wish list. Was it the simplicity? The rhythm? The imagination? Or was it the unmistakable artwork that made those stories unforgettable?

Reading expands the mind. When we read, we step into different eras, landscapes, and experiences. We travel without moving. We consider ideas we might never encounter otherwise. That connects beautifully with our Lenten theme, Dream Again, as books help us imagine possibilities beyond our current routines. Reading stretches the heart and sharpens the mind.

Today’s Lenten challenge is to read for one full hour.  Choose a novel, a biography, a devotional book, or even a thoughtful digital publication.  Skip the news cycle in your reading; current events will still be there tomorrow. 

Give your imagination something richer - an hour of escape to let your mind wander somewhere new.  You may discover that reading awakens a dream you did not realize was still alive!

“Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don't ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise.”  (Philippians 4:8, CEV)