Be Still In Haste, a Reflection
This post is part of a broader series where Full Table contributors reflect on Wendell Berry’s work to celebrate his life and legacy. The list of reflections can be found here.Ģż
My first year teaching at 91“«Ć½ Academy I was overwhelmed (in the best possible way) by all that I did not know. The teacherās work room was lively with conversation grounded in the ideas of giants I had once read and forgotten. My notebook from that year is filled with notes like,ĢżĢż
ār±š-°ł±š²¹»å Aristotleās Poetics, āĢż
ār±š-°ł±š²¹»å Macbeth, āĢż
āthey donāt like Nietzsche here, ā Ģż
āitās pronounced Au-gust-tin, not August-teen, āĢżĢż
āwho is Josef Pieper? āĢż
ār±š-°ł±š²¹»å Abolition of Man, āĢżĢż
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One afternoon, Wendell Berry was mentioned, a name I had never heard before. I was asked if I had ever read him, and when I said no there was a burst of excitement. āYou have to read Wendell Berry! Heāll make you want to drop everything and buy a farm!āĢżĢż
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And so, that weekend I bought the audiobook, The World-Ending Fire, and listened to all sixteen and a half hours while doing yardwork on my small lawn. My friend proved to be right when I asked my wife, āwhat would you think about moving to the country and buying a little farm?āĢżĢż
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Through the years, Wendell Berryās writings have been a gentle reminder to me to quiet my heart and clear my eyes to see that God has provided everything I need. His poem āBe Still in Hasteā has been on my heart since his passing.ĢżĢż
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BE STILL IN HASTEĢżĢż
How quietly I
begin again
from this moment
looking at the
clock, I start over
so much time has
passed, and is equaled
by whatever
split-second is present
from this
moment this moment
is the first.ĢżĢż
Ģż
I pray that Mr. Berryās soul has found rest. The last stanza of this poem has been my prayer for him and a constant hope in our salvation in Christ. During Mr. Berryās final moment on his beloved land, I hope he confidently said, āfrom this moment, this moment is the first.āĢż
Disclaimer: The above article solely represents the views of the author and does not represent any endorsement or statement by the Academy. Read more here.
