A couple of weeks ago, I woke up to a text from a friend I have known for ten years. He has had a copy of my book for about that long, but he wrote to let me know that he had just started to read it.

I have heard this before, often times apologetically: “I am so sorry I haven’t read your book before this, but…” and they usually feel compelled to offer an explanation. But there is no need to explain, nor to apologize. I have learned that we are all on a different journey. We are all at different stages of our lives. And even for those who are at a similar stage as I, our life circumstances and experiences are so varied.

Books I read in my 20s have a much different meaning when I read them in my 40s. Even when I give a talk to an audience who has heard me speak before; I will begin with, “You are at a different stage in your life, with new experiences since we were last together. You will find new meaning in my words.” And it’s true. We all read books, and listen to speakers, through the lens of where we are in life.

So when my friend apologized for just starting to read my book, I knew - as I told him - that he picked it up because he was called to pick it up at this time in his life. I am just grateful that he picked it up at all!