CULTIVATING OUR CULTURE II

In yesterday’s Journal entry this comment was made:
“That the word “culture” is related to the Latin word for “cultivation,” for “tending”—like a gardener cultivates soil by supplying it with necessary nutrients…” It reminded me of a quote from Wendell Berry:

“Good human work honors God’s work. Good work uses no thing without respect, both for what it is in itself and for its origin. It uses neither tool nor material that it does not respect and that it does not love. It honors nature as a great mystery and power, as an indispensable teacher, and as the inescapable judge of all work of human hands.”
(From ‘The Art of the Commonplace’)

Good human work, like good cultural work, is work that is tended, cultivated, cared for, and carefully respected. “It honors nature as a great mystery and power, as an indispensable teacher, and as the inescapable judge of all work of human hands.”

“And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.” Jesus