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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.��

My first year teaching at Trinity ��ż��� I was overwhelmed (in the best possible way) by all that I did not know. The teacher’s 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,����

“r��-���𲹻� Aristotle’s Poetics, ”��

“r��-���𲹻� Macbeth, ”��

“they don’t like Nietzsche here, ” ��

“it’s pronounced Au-gust-tin, not August-teen, ”����

“who is Josef Pieper? ”��

“r��-���𲹻� Abolition of Man, ”����

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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. “You have to read Wendell Berry! He’ll make you want to drop everything and buy a farm!”����

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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, “what would you think about moving to the country and buying a little farm?”����

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Through the years, Wendell Berry’s 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 “Be Still in Haste” has been on my heart since his passing.����

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BE STILL IN HASTE����

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.����

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I pray that Mr. Berry’s 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. Berry’s final moment on his beloved land, I hope he confidently said, “from this moment, this moment is the first.”��

Disclaimer: The above article solely represents the views of the author and does not represent any endorsement or statement by the ��ż���. Read more here.