On tornadoes, solar storms, government warnings, and the humble paper map. There's something amusing about watching the government discover preparedness. For years, the advice to ordinary citizens has been fairly simple. Keep a little food and water on hand. Have a flashlight. Know where your family is going to meet if the house catches fire … Continue reading The Great American Panic-Proofing Project
Category: Cultural Essays
Reflections on the customs, moral assumptions, and social habits that shape everyday life. These essays explore the traditions, virtues, and institutions that quietly organize society.
The Weight of Command: Servant Leadership in the Biblical Tradition
Command has a way of revealing a person. It gives someone the authority to make decisions, direct the actions of others, and accept responsibility for consequences that may fall most heavily on those with less power. We often judge military leaders by their victories, their discipline, or their ability to accomplish a mission. Scripture offers … Continue reading The Weight of Command: Servant Leadership in the Biblical Tradition
Metallica, Trust, and the Business of Staying Power
As I approach the half-century mark, I have been spending an unreasonable amount of time lately watching people react to music on YouTube. The format is simple enough: someone listens to a song, watches a performance, or encounters an album for the first time, while a camera records the experience. Sometimes the results are amusing. … Continue reading Metallica, Trust, and the Business of Staying Power
The Currency of Honor
Years ago, I wrote about the business of buying Scottish titles. For a few pounds, you could purchase a tiny plot of land in Scotland and receive a certificate declaring you a Lord, Lady, or Laird. The transaction was real enough. The certificate existed. The little piece of land existed, too. What you did not … Continue reading The Currency of Honor
Kudzu and Its Ilk
It was planted to stop erosion. It fed cattle. It was praised by experts and promoted by the government. Then it crossed the fence line. Today it covers forests, barns, telephone poles, and most of my backyard. Kudzu never asked permission. Neither does power. Every generation invents a new reason to surrender an old liberty. … Continue reading Kudzu and Its Ilk
The Free State of Trust
Several years ago, not long after my wife and I moved to Winston County, Alabama, I was talking with a longtime member of the community. During the conversation he said something I’ve never forgotten. “It doesn’t matter how long you live here,” he said. “You’ll always be an outsider.” He didn’t say it kindly. And … Continue reading The Free State of Trust
Earning its Place on the Shelf
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven..."Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV) There was a time when every new book represented possibility. I bought them with the optimism that someday I would read them, understand them, and perhaps become a little wiser because of them. Some came from bookstores, … Continue reading Earning its Place on the Shelf
