Just can't get into reading

[Meemai]

I want to dive in the scriptures, read about Francis from Assi, wanna dive in the books.

But I never was able to focus I’ve had some depressions, and whenever I want to read I lose focus fast, I don’t know what to do. I can’t get further while I wanna get further in life. I wanna read about God and everything. I wanna learn to know him better. I am a believer for 2 months maybe now. But I feel alone, whenever I wanna read it all goes wrong.

What do I need to do, where should I go. I feel like I failed, I have a reading room I should get up earlier and try to read. I wanna be more active… I wanna go hard for the lord.

I’m kinda lost at the moment don’t know what to do… I’m at a loss… Any advice any tips what can I do? I lit novena’s, saint jude, saint rita, saint camillus, but no help… I don’t know what to do.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

It sounds like you want to learn everything and that kind of enthusiasm is great!

Perhaps some things would be good in small sips rather than great gulps. What about reading the Mass readings each day as a way of becoming more familiar with Scripture?

If you are interested in saints or other topics, perhaps audio books would be a way to go. Or movies, documentaries, or other videos.

Don’t worry about getting in everything at once. However much you learn, there will always be more out there.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

Why don’t you try letting technology help you?

Sometimes I like to let the computer read the Bible to me; I can pay attention or just have it as background sound (that I trust finds its way into my soul when I’m not focused on it) or anything in between. I might read the text along with it, or take a nap to it. A few years ago when I was very troubled I actually an audio file of the New Testament on a loop for a couple months, and I worked, played, and slept to it – every 17 hours it began again with Matt 1. I don’t have that audio file anymore, but now it’s easy to find on the web.

I don’t know of any free online Catholic audio Bibles, because I’m happy with using the NIV for search and for mechanized reading at the website I use to search. I’m sure there are Catholic versions.

But you can try it on the site I usually use to listen to. It’s at biblegateway.com/.

If you want to get started right away, how about let the machine read you Romans 8 while you relax? Or maybe 1 Cor 13? Or maybe with the gospel of John? The links are below:

biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Rom.8

biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/1Cor.13

biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/John.1

 

[PrayRosary]

It sounds like you want to learn everything and that kind of enthusiasm is great!

Perhaps some things would be good in small sips rather than great gulps. What about reading the Mass readings each day as a way of becoming more familiar with Scripture?

If you are interested in saints or other topics, perhaps audio books would be a way to go. Or movies, documentaries, or other videos.

Don’t worry about getting in everything at once. However much you learn, there will always be more out there.

Good advice here

 

[Meemai]

Thanks,

I sometimes use audiobooks but like reading myself more, as I can flip a page down etc. Or skip a few pages and read whatever chapter I want.

I think I’ll pray for help from the holy spirit. And just give it my best shot.

 

[Lisa1967]

Best wishes with it. When I was new in the faith, I started with the Gospel of Mark, as that seemed easier to read and went fast. Then I read the other Gospels and the rest of the New Testament. See if there is a Bible study near you. Maybe just read a chapter a night; don’t overwhelm yourself; allow the words to sink in.

 

[Meemai]

Best wishes with it. When I was new in the faith, I started with the Gospel of Mark, as that seemed easier to read and went fast. Then I read the other Gospels and the rest of the New Testament. See if there is a Bible study near you. Maybe just read a chapter a night; don’t overwhelm yourself; allow the words to sink in.

I have read Matthew I am doing Mark with a bible study group. But where I live well my bible study group is once every 14 days. Which is not a lot.

 

[Auntie_A]

Some ideas:

Audio tapes- you can get free ones and a recorder/player in most states if you are blind, physically disabled, learning disabled–perhaps you have a visual processing disorder and the letters on paper make it hard for you to focus.

Talk with learning specialist/opthalmologist.

Get checked out for attention deficit disorder, anxiety, depression-these and others can affect your focus.

Borrow a “Kindle” reader and play with enlarging the letters and changing from black letters on white to white letters on black…this might help you.

“Reading machines” for those with low vision, can enlarge letters and change contrast: some can work through your television.

Try out the large print books at the library.

Explore the same topics but look in the children’s and teen book section at the library: sometimes the writing is more concrete, basic, simpler.

Have someone read to you. Read out loud to your self. Form an out loud reading club.

Write down the main points of what you read. My dyslexic sister does this and she knows and remembers more of what she has written.

Recognize that we all take in information in different ways. Those who can’t focus on reading usually have talents in other areas and should just get matter of fact, rather than frustrated. Like some people say:“I don’t type”, you can say, “I process information differently”.