How heartening to read what you share here Nate. Thank you. It made me think about why I often find myself craving to cook for my family even if, in my part of the world (the southeast Asian Global South), middle class conventions include having a hired cook at home. Recently I discovered, I prefer defying this convention for the sake of my and my family’s soul. I couldn’t put into words why my instincts pointed in this direction but your essay helped me see, that crafting, whether with wood or food, is a powerful daily way of touching God and unveiling our best, fullest selves. Thankful for this reminder.
Both my boys are skilled tradesmen by choice and I am going to forward this to them. I love the quote at the end -
“[Tradesmen] rely upon their hands, and each is skillful in his own work. Without them a city cannot be established, and men can neither sojourn nor live there. …[T]hey keep stable the fabric of the world, and their prayer is in the practice of their trade.” (Sirach 38:31-32, 34).
Society has elevated the "professional, knowledge based" jobs to the point of disdain for anything "less" such as skilled trades, yet very few even give a thought to the fact that none of what we have now would even be possible without them.
Also, love how you integrated the theological points here, especially tying in the Garden scenario. Never thought of it like that.
The craftsmen form guilds and guilds develop hierarchy. Practitioners use rituals to teach methods associated with their craft. In Norwegian, kraft means power. They become priests with complex handshakes to establish status. They become Freemasons, whose status depends on their level of learning. They form a secret society that preys on the lower society and is invested in keeping knowledge hidden from the populace. The priests develop mind control techniques to prevent the uninitiated from gaining knowledge. Eventually, these techniques fail and there is an apocalypse or revealing of occult secrets.
How heartening to read what you share here Nate. Thank you. It made me think about why I often find myself craving to cook for my family even if, in my part of the world (the southeast Asian Global South), middle class conventions include having a hired cook at home. Recently I discovered, I prefer defying this convention for the sake of my and my family’s soul. I couldn’t put into words why my instincts pointed in this direction but your essay helped me see, that crafting, whether with wood or food, is a powerful daily way of touching God and unveiling our best, fullest selves. Thankful for this reminder.
A very thought engaging article, Nate.
Both my boys are skilled tradesmen by choice and I am going to forward this to them. I love the quote at the end -
“[Tradesmen] rely upon their hands, and each is skillful in his own work. Without them a city cannot be established, and men can neither sojourn nor live there. …[T]hey keep stable the fabric of the world, and their prayer is in the practice of their trade.” (Sirach 38:31-32, 34).
Society has elevated the "professional, knowledge based" jobs to the point of disdain for anything "less" such as skilled trades, yet very few even give a thought to the fact that none of what we have now would even be possible without them.
Also, love how you integrated the theological points here, especially tying in the Garden scenario. Never thought of it like that.
Thanks for this essay.
This is quite wonderful! Thank you for setting it all forth so clearly.
The craftsmen form guilds and guilds develop hierarchy. Practitioners use rituals to teach methods associated with their craft. In Norwegian, kraft means power. They become priests with complex handshakes to establish status. They become Freemasons, whose status depends on their level of learning. They form a secret society that preys on the lower society and is invested in keeping knowledge hidden from the populace. The priests develop mind control techniques to prevent the uninitiated from gaining knowledge. Eventually, these techniques fail and there is an apocalypse or revealing of occult secrets.