Haunted by Grace, a little East of Eden: A Literary Apologetic
Like the Macleans, we are listening for those inaudible, but not imperceptible, words underneath the rocks in the river that runs through our own lives.
Fore-Deck as Front Porch
Where do the porchers from across the Pond go to escape the entrapment of a modern, concrete, urban sprawl?
The Bridge and the Breach: A Review of Indigenous by Jennifer...
It is a hybrid, sacramental understanding of the earth and matter and of being in the world. She seems to say that even if the earth of Chilhowee is dry or the trees of the Smokies are stunted, we must cherish them because they remain good.
Resisting Romanticism and the Elision of Labor
I thus find myself in the odd position of resisting romanticism while, nevertheless, hoping that future conditions will create that temptation.
Root, Root, Root for the Home Team
While the nationalization of sports media outlets brings games and analysis to every living room in America, fan culture retains a very distinct regional and local flavor.
What Makes Art Beautiful?
The failure to distinguish between art and beauty has caused much confusion. Art and beauty have two different but overlapping trajectories–one towards union and the other towards transcendent reality.
Hannah Arendt on Labor, Work, and Dwelling—and Plastic Straws
An appreciation for labor and the cycle of nature is not itself enough for sustainable human dwelling. We also need a re-appreciation of the durability and independence of the works we produce.
Institutionally Challenged? Obadiah to the Rescue
By God’s grace, this child of parachurch upbringing coupled with a healthy dose of American independence is growing in his appreciation for the institution ordained by God.
Sticking It Out in Green Bay: Mona Simpson’s Off Keck Road
"With her glamorous personal life and occasionally edgy prose, Simpson hardly fits the mold of the down-home writer who nurtures a sense of place. Yet..."
The Localist Theory of Charles Marohn’s Wonderfully Practical Strong Towns
This past weekend, I took a group of students up to the annual Prairie Festival at The Land Institute in Salina, KS. I...