Category: Big Picture
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My Letter to Wendell Berry
Two and a half years ago (2011) I wrote to Wendell Berry. I had just turned 30 and, reflecting back upon my life, I felt the need to write him a letter of thanks for the guiding force his words had been to me. At the time, I had known of his work for ten…
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Take Five — A Theme This Year
ONE word for the new year. One word to describe the theme for your year? Friends here in Amsterdam decided this was a better way to do the traditional New Years Resolution. Instead of making resolutions that are unfortunately shorter than that new gym membership, what can we make of the year if we call…
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The Things I Fear
When I came to Amsterdam, I sold most of my possessions, or put them on the curb to watch them all be picked through by my neighbors. It felt rather freeing, actually: to be so free of material possessions. It may be a bit cliché to say so, but it’s really how I felt. I…
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From Portland to Amsterdam via Seattle
As the plane rounds onto the runway from the tarmac and the engines started to rev to full acceleration, it begins to hit me: I’m leaving America. In the past month, I haven’t had time to think or feel anything. It has felt so surreal. Saying goodbyes to friends hasn’t felt like long goodbyes, but…
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While Having Coffee in Denver
It’s funny the direction life takes you, and how there is a path in the midst of the mess it often appears to be. I often feel I am wandering in a woods with no clear path, but looking back I see a path that was well carved. I don’t quite believe in life having…
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Ignorant Pilgrim
This passage comes from Wendell Berry’s novel “Jayber Crow”. I’m heavily struck each time I read this. I relate so much to how the character, Jayber, feels here. I love this. If you could do it, I suppose, it would be a good idea to live your life in a straight line—starting, say in the…
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Online Distraction
Yes, I know. It has been a long time since I’ve written here on this blog. Well, much of the reason that I haven’t is actually a result of the topic that I’ve wanted to write about: distraction. I wanted to write. Really I did. I also wanted to read the books on my bookshelf.…
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A Native Hill
The title I’ve chosen for this blog, “A Native Hill” comes from one of my favorite authors and social commentators Wendell Berry. He wouldn’t much approve of the idea of me writing this on my new laptop consuming a real amount of electricity (with an old but perfectly functioning laptop downstairs connected to a new TV), and…
A Native Hill 