This past week has been rough for my family's Lenten moderation. Since we were on spring "break" (adulthood imparts more than a little irony to that term), we decided to travel and visit family. This naturally induced us to forget or soften our Lenten resolutions; it is not easy to turn down gifts, food or … Continue reading The Immoderate Irish
On Psyche’s Impossible Tasks and the Little Way of Wooing God
Psyche at the Throne of Aphrodite, Edward Hale, 1883 Probably the greatest of the Greek myths has to be the story of Psyche and Eros. No matter how many times I recall this tale, I am always drawn into the details of the story, feeling deeply for every joy and sorrow of Psyche. I feel … Continue reading On Psyche’s Impossible Tasks and the Little Way of Wooing God
Don’t Follow Your Passions, Broaden Them!
I recently listened to one of those Google Talks by Dr. Barbara Oakley on the topic, "Learning How to Learn." Although a completely secular audience and atmosphere, I was impressed with the humility and magnanimity of this woman. This lovely lady did not fall into the jargonny academicism that so many PhD's can fall into. … Continue reading Don’t Follow Your Passions, Broaden Them!
We Are Bound to Our Times
For the past year, I have been slowly moving through my resolution to finally complete Owen Barfield's Poetic Diction. (Barfield, Owen. Poetic Diction: a Study in Meaning. Wesleyan Univ. Pr., 1973). It is a relatively short but dense account of the philosophy of poetry that deserves a lot of time and annotations. Without the impetus … Continue reading We Are Bound to Our Times
Some Thoughts As Lent Approaches
1. Reject Destructive, Self-Pitying Thoughts Now that you're out in the wide open world, without the formative constraints and influences you had in college, some of the good habits you formed then have likely slipped away. Possibly, without the next outdoor trip looming over you, or the shame of the nightly dorm push-ups, or the … Continue reading Some Thoughts As Lent Approaches
Encomium to Evangeline on her Second Birthday!
Names are so wonderful! Letters put together, sounds uttered by vocal chords, and yet, these words have the power to express a particular person, a unique image of God! What an amazing thing that God lets us name our children. What a sacred privilege and a solemn duty we parents have to bestow upon our … Continue reading Encomium to Evangeline on her Second Birthday!
My Resolution to Write on Lander’s Forge
If you know me at all, you probably know that one of my biggest weaknesses is over-thinking things. I have so many thoughts running through my head all the time and I can sometimes let them overwhelm and consume me in a destructive sort of way. Analysis paralysis, perfectionism, excessive rationalization, meloncholia - whatever you … Continue reading My Resolution to Write on Lander’s Forge
A Eulogy for Tim Gilland
In the summer of 2019, I worked for the Shoshone National Forest as an ATV ranger. The job consisted of riding an ATV on the forest's motorized trails, making visitor contacts, checking permits, and maintaining and marking the trails. My coworker was Tim Gilland, a Wyoming native who had recently moved back to his home … Continue reading A Eulogy for Tim Gilland
On the Reading of Leo Strauss
When a Christian picks up Leo Strauss' work, two things strike the educated reader: 1) That this man knows his subject matter, and 2) He does not want to be read. Thus the experience of continuing to read Strauss, rather than tossing the book away with irritation and disgust, will not happen if the reader … Continue reading On the Reading of Leo Strauss
Emotions as Self-Justifying
This week, I have been contemplating an emotional phenomenon that I have seen in people of my generation: the justification of one's actions based upon an idea of positive emotion as self-justifying. The principle would be something like this: Positive Emotions are a) indicators of happiness i.e. they arise from contact with people/places/things that will … Continue reading Emotions as Self-Justifying
Lander's Forge 