resisting change
I’ve had my Bible for 10 years. I got my Student Bible just before my second mission trip to Botswana. It has served me well this past decade, traveling with me throughout Africa, Europe, and America.
It is well-worn and comfortable. My notes, underlines, papers, highlights, photos, and stickers that completely surround and fill my trusty Bible have made it my own. When the cover started falling off, I patched it with duct tape. I’ve had to add many layers of duct tape since, the most recent being right before we left for the States in August.
I decided the time had unfortunately come for me to retire my Bible. I found and purchased the replacement: a compact NIV Study Bible in black leather with silver trim. It’s much nicer to look at than my old Bible — and
much more useful, with all its notes and a concordance actually worth using. But it’s not very comfortable…
I need to make it my own. I need to transfer my thoughts and heart from my old Bible to this new one. In thinking through how best to do this, I decided on methodical and orderly — going through my old Bible, page by page, and copying my underlinings and notes into my new one. This will take me a while.
I’ve breezed through Genesis and Exodus. I know some books will be fairly quick (not a whole lot of underlining action in Leviticus). I am, however, a bit concerned about Psalms…
Eventually, my new Bible will feel more like it belongs to me, like I’m at home in it. Someday I’ll be able to easily find verses in it as well — verses that I can quickly turn to in my old Bible simply because I know where they are on the page.
For now, I’ll keep using my battle-scarred, duct-taped, comfortable Bible…
I have become so spoiled on Copy and Paste i almost get mad if i have to transfefr notes on paper..way to go Alece!
My bible looks a lot like yours. duck tape and stickers.. thats fun. i also got mine for my first trip to Africa.. it has blessed me much and i want to use it as long as it will hold up. psalms and proverbs are completely loose from their bindings.. they are also the most colorful and note engraved pages. have a great day!
Love ya
WOW KITTY~ I can’t believe your Bible is on its way to retirement! You’ve had it a LONG time. I can totally relate to the new Bible discomfort. I don’t think there is anything as personal as a Bible that has been with you over the years.
Old, comfortable worn-in Bibles are the best! Have you considered keeping them almost as a diary/reference book – and keeping the new one blank ’til God reveals to you so many more things to fill up the pages? Well, I’m sure you have. :> Much fun transposing!
An old Bible is like a comfy pair of slippers and your suggle-up warm bathrobe. It gives you feelings it gives to no one else! Enjoy the transition. The new WILL become the old! I love you!
Oh I know how you feel! I love my Bible from my teenage years – all my Afica and missions notes, stickers… It has a big “I love Botswana” sticker on it that I bought at the Marang in Francistown.
It is kind of a sad transition to leave the old Bible, and like you saying knowing where on the page a verse is.
I bought my current Bible right before we started Bible & Missions school so it is full of wonderful thoughts and notes (although the cover is completley removed…I’ve not upgraded it to ducttape yet!). I feel like I never want to have to get a new one. These books are so precious to us.
And I was admiring your Bible recently. So much personality.
thanks, friends!
and know all you lady’s know how we as men feel about thos ecertain old well worn , full of memories, some with notes in them underware and t,shirts and pair of jeans you love to through away when we go fishing and camping and loose the battle with keeping our very close friends who has been there with us through thick and thin,rain and snow, supporting us in all of our endevours…..how do we transfer that into a new pair of whitey-tidy’s ?