Meaningful leisure is the antidote to both the modern world’s laziness as well as its bustle, but more than that, leisure leads to the highest human calling, contemplation. “Leisure is,” according to the German philosopher Josef Pieper, “the contemplative reception of reality through our highest activities.” In other words doing activities that allow the mind … More Leisure and the Highest Good
Aristotle – Metaphysics, On Interpretation, The Categories, Prior Analytics, De Anima, Poetics, and Rhetoric Cicero – The Republic, and The Laws Shakespeare – Hamlet (4th reading), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream Thomas Hardy – Jude the Obscure Seneca – Selected Dialogues and Consolations William Blake – Songs of Wisdom and Experience Montgomery – Emily Climbs … More Books Read or Listened to in 2023
Christians sometimes fall prey to wrongly seeing everything in two categories: the good and the evil. If we think something is a good (mistakenly or not) we tend to think that, in all circumstances, we should have it, and then any claim to moderation is a limitation on the good itself. Conversely, if we deem … More The Good and the Lesser Good
What does it mean to be a human? It is an important question, assuming, as I do, that I am one. I take an older view of personhood; one in which essence proceeds being, and I take this truth to be axiomatic. While different humans might be unique due to accidental differences, what it means … More A Sacramental Affair
Celebrate the goodness of all created things. Mourn when good things are used for evil ends, but reveal in absolute goodness of creation. As Christians, in a decadent world, with are own personal failings, it’s easy to place a great, and largely deserved, weight on the corruption of what was once paradise, and yet, you … More The Goodness of Things
(Montgomery)It’s a Flash of inspiration,A seeing through the mists.A tasting of eternity,That comes and then desists.(Chesterton)An open door to Fairyland, Where elves and fairies play,And swordmen clash and giants fall,And night is freer than day. (Wordsworth)An Ode to Immortality,A faintly remembered land,An echo of a realer realmThat children and fools understand. (Longfellow)The Song of some … More The Flash – A Poem
I try not to wear jeans and a t-shirt, and there is a specific reason for this. Now, I live in a place where the summers get to 115+, I work from home, I engage in things like running or gardening, and hence I do “dress down” occasionally. But in making a conscious effort to … More Dress-up!
When Francis of Assisi referred to nature as his sister, he was being deeply Christian. There are three options for viewing the natural world: it can be our mother, our whore, or our sister. Paganism gives us mother nature; the earth itself, not a transcendent God, is the generator of mankind. It is therefore to … More Sister Earth
This is not for pleasure reading. Most people can race through their favorite pulp fiction writers in no time flat. But to read long or dense works, while infinitely rewarding, requires some ground rules. #1. Have a tangible reason This might seem like a no-brainer. Of course, you are reading to better yourself, gain knowledge, … More Five Rules for Reading Better
What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason! How infinite in faculty! In form and moving how express and admirable! In action how like an angel! In apprehension how like a god! The beauty of the world! The paragon of animals! And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? … More The Glory of God in Man
Reflective Wanderer 