2.1 KiB
A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. R.A. Heinlein
And the bit from Esolen
It's extremely important to be able to do real things, because these physical things give glory to God. the capacity to commune with God's creation is what makes man, man. The incarnation happened; it is most fitting for us to participate actively with the world; even monks labor.
And even if the psychological damage of decadence doesn't do us in, the physical effects will. There will be war, pestilence, famine - are we ready?
But we've lost many of the practical skills. We don't build our own houses. We don't change our own oil. "It's harder to", yes, but only because we've sluffed off and not demanded that these things be accessible. It's time to take back our birthright as men; our claim to mastery over the earth.
We must - and can - relearn these things. Many of us already know useful things. Many of us have places by which to learn them. For some things, the how is less clear.
We must think grand. We aren't talking about making trinkets, but houses, chapels. Maybe, cathedrals. Not windowsill herbs, but serious gardens. Chickens, goats, cows. How to identify a tree.
And it is crucial that we do this in the context of the faith. That in learning all of this, we direct our eyes back to God.
Bah, that cappadocian house proposal
We can start easily, and can do it on an ad-hoc basis too initially.
- Take a night at the makerspace; take over the woodshop, and do some basic carpentry. Or sewing.
- Plan a garden at St. Francis; meet to tend it on a weekly basis.
The focus (unlike ora-et-labora) is actually on skilled craft, though bodily physicque may be an important component to develop as well.
And at every meeting, PRAY. Ora et labora. Bring food and drink. Make a good time of it.