Profound Moments While Reading

I recently finished a book called Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. There are moments when I read when I am completely engrossed in a book. I have great respect for books that can do that. It is such an amazing powerful moment!

There were several profound moments in Three Cups of Tea, but one that really moved me was when Haji Ali, the Korphe Village Chief, gives up twelve rams when a corrupt government official demands this if he were to be allowed to build the school. Rams in their culture, as Mortenson put it, were something they valued very much, like they were sons. And he gave up his rams for the education of the village children.

Here's an excerpt:

He picked up his dog-eared, grease-spotted Koran and held it before the flames. "do you see how beautiful this Koran is?" Haji Ali asked.

"Yes."

"I can't readi it," he said. "I can't read anything. This is the greatest sadness in my life. I'll do anything so the children of my village never have to know this feeling. I'll pay any price so they have the education they deserve."

It is the power of the human spirit, and I think it's pretty amazing. We DREAMers do the same. We can't stand injustice, and can't stand seeing other people in the same pain.

This moment also made me think about how lucky I am, that I am able to read. Reading is such a liberating experience, something that completely sets me free...it's so cool how we can teach ourselves so much because we can read.