I’ve started an audiobook version of Jayber Crowe because of this essay. Not the ideal way to take it in but the book it unavailable in my library so I’m working with what I can. Thanks for this!
I have listened to Jayber Crow twice on audiobook. It's a good way to take it in. I've listened to all of Wendell Berry's fiction that is available on Audible and the narrators are well chosen to convey the literature. I'm excited to hear your reports after reading!
Your description of nostalgia-idealism-action is powerful. It's something that we should explore some more. I have a bit of a pragmatic streak, which is helpful towards action in public service. But I am cognizant that pragmatism without idealism is a path towards building a community that looks like every other community, dominated by cookie-cutter development and national chains, a place that is neither unique nor interesting.
I’ve started an audiobook version of Jayber Crowe because of this essay. Not the ideal way to take it in but the book it unavailable in my library so I’m working with what I can. Thanks for this!
I have listened to Jayber Crow twice on audiobook. It's a good way to take it in. I've listened to all of Wendell Berry's fiction that is available on Audible and the narrators are well chosen to convey the literature. I'm excited to hear your reports after reading!
As a rural Georgian, your words bring harsh truths but great inspiration. Looks like I need to read Jayber Crow!
Nostalgia, idealism, and action
Inspiration, aspiration, and incarnation
Faith, hope, and love
And the greatest of these, we are taught, is love
Without nostalgia, we are doomed to militantly creating a future uninformed by the past and its mistakes
Without idealism, we are doomed to naively recreating a past with no vision toward overcoming its mistakes
Without action, we are doomed
Your description of nostalgia-idealism-action is powerful. It's something that we should explore some more. I have a bit of a pragmatic streak, which is helpful towards action in public service. But I am cognizant that pragmatism without idealism is a path towards building a community that looks like every other community, dominated by cookie-cutter development and national chains, a place that is neither unique nor interesting.