by Emrys | Nov 9, 2018 | Above Tree Line, November 2018
QuestionsI rarely find a piece that needs little introduction and no commentary. But here is a magnificent snippet from Wendell Berry’s novel Jayber Crow (2000, Counterpoint Press, pp 53-54) which has in itself Berry’s signature elegance and completeness.“And so...
by Emrys | Nov 3, 2018 | Above Tree Line, November 2018
The Teenage Brain What exactly goes on in the teenage brain? After we move past all the humorous clichés about the adolescent mind, France Jensen and Amy Ellis Nutt help us understand what neuroscience reveals about the human brain between ages 13 and 26. Their book,...
by Emrys | Dec 4, 2017 | Above Tree Line, December 2017
In her insightful article examining the rise of the “alt-right” in America, Angela Nagle made the following piercing observation: “Together, [conservative] right and [liberal] left created a world in which a young person could invent his own identity and curate his...
by Emrys | Oct 24, 2017 | Above Tree Line, October 2017
Abhorring Silence I see more and more of us without a gap in our lives. Unless it pings us from our phones, demands the next snap in a streak, or causes the screen in our hands to light up, we do not pay attention to it. I have begun to encounter folks who live all...
by Emrys | Oct 18, 2017 | Above Tree Line, October 2017
Rest, Peace, Prayer I wandered through the Sonlight lodge, surveying the field and seeing if there were any unmet needs. I checked the coffee bar, the fresh fruit basket, and the status of the fire in the wood stove. Then I took a moment to watch our guests. One sat...
by Emrys | Sep 22, 2017 | Above Tree Line, September 2017
Behind the Scenes What most people—campers, parents, visitors—see in Sonlight is what brings people back to 120 acres of near-wilderness north of Pagosa Springs every year. They see great worship, teaching, hospitality, fun (and messy) games, fresh air, great food...