Wednesday, 25 June 2008

• I grew up eating a lot of sugar. I was ravenous for its crystalline power, whatever matter the form took. Sodas, jelly-beans, little-debbies, cookies, kool-aid, ad infinitum. Sitting with my cookies and a tub of peanut butter, I'd spend several afternoons a week just watching "The Tick" or whatever mindless garbarge happened to roll through my television. Eventually, the TV was mostly replaced by the computer.

  Something has changed since then, though. Roughly 10 years later, I am a new man. There is a saying: ecclesia semper reformado. The church is always reforming. And by the church, I mean, Ryan semper reformando. This summer is no different. Each year brings its waves, its changes, it's innovations for my life. Two summers ago, this was the advent of St. Benedict, St. Francis, and Guatemala; eventually even Buddha. Last summer, with all its nefarious hurts, brought with it a knee-grinding habit of prayer. This summer, it's altogether something different. In fact, it's not a single idea, or if it is, it is quite broad.

  This summer's idea is, simply put, culture. Culture, in all its etymological and deep-rooted (clap if you get the pun) denotations, has formed the basis of my studies, of my life. Essentially, culture has implied three things: heart, hands, mind. This notion is familiar to me, as I recall Brian's musings on the subject some time ago. Nevertheless, I've been fulfilling some capacious depths within me that haven't been touched for a while.

  First, hands -- Kelli and I have started buying, nearly exclusively, from the farmer's market. I will begin gardening soon. I will use my hands.

  second, mind -- I have been studying philosophy -- forms, matter, ideas, ethics, ontology, metaphysics, et. al.!

  More on this later, friends.  

   

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