Source: Law & Liberty
by Rachel Alexander Cambre
“‘This is my story, my giving of thanks.’ So begins Wendell Berry’s 2004 novel Hannah Coulter, narrated by the titular character, a 79-year-old woman recounting her life’s story. It is a work of thanksgiving, and it is a work about thanksgiving — how it is practiced, how it is learned, and what happens when it gives way to restless longing for ‘a better place.’ As such, it raises questions pertinent to today’s holiday. Thanksgiving preparations typically revolve around practical to-do list items, from booking travel accommodations and coordinating family schedules to cooking and cleaning before guests arrive. Reading Hannah Coulter reminds us that a deeper preparation is called for. What kind of an education equips us to give thanks?” (11/28/24)