My blog’s title was inspired by Kathleen Norris’ book, Dakota: A Spiritual Geography (1993). The quote in the header is drawn from a novel by Wendell Berry called Hannah Coulter (2004). My thanks go to Ben for recommending and lending them to me.
Defining Terms
The word “geography” derives from the Greek γεωγραφία (geographia), literally, “earth describe-write.” It’s a word that describes what I’m doing when I write about the world. This geography is a “spiritual” exercise because I’m taking a spiritual approach to describing my world, and mapping my own spirituality in the process.
It’s Not What You Look At
As the quote in the subtitle suggests, the way you interpret the reality you experience defines your person to the exclusion of almost everything else. I’ve looked at some pretty incredible things, and I want to remember the way that I saw them.
The Goal
The idea is to put myself out there, to make it so that God’s influence on the world is greater than the influence the world exercises on my spirit. This place will hold all the attempts I make to give expression to the things that I’ve experienced and to the changes they’ve affected in me. The capture of memories will collide with the pursuit of beautiful prose, and I hope to find a more honest vision of self and Savior among the pieces.
Road Map
Descriptions and perceptions of my current location appear at the top of every post in italics.
My ideas about and reactions to them follow in regular text. Comments, constructive criticism, corrections to my prose or challenges to my thinking are welcome and encouraged.
I found your blog via Sarah and wanted to let you know how grateful for the insights and reflections that you share here. It reflects beauty, truth and goodness in both form and content and encourages me to make the time to slow down and reflect.
~Jenny Savage
aka Sarah’s mom