Reading through some of Wendel Berry's short Novels and his non fiction work called the Unsettling of America, has stirred up lots of childhood memories. Berry's novels just have a goodness about them. They honor hard work, the nurturing of people, for land, and animals alike. The old idea of husbandry, the care for the life of the farm in order to preserve it as a legacy for future generations, comes through as a counter paradigm to our popular anti culture culture of quick profits at the expense of the poor and of our children. He see's the true beauty of an America which lives for the next generation, loves life, and God, and has a great respect for all of creation. When I was a little boy we rented a farm house and fed the horses to pay a little less rent each month. This painting stirred up by reading Berry's novels was from memory, really of hearing the story of dad destroying the television in the garden. It reminded me of my own struggles with how to live in balance with technology and mass media culture. These stories have stirred a renewed respect for my parents and the deep sense of love and commitment to family they have always nurtured.
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