Dear Readers, It is a part of our human life to experience pain. Small pain, great pain. When in pain, we respond naturally: with sadness, or anger, or grief, or even hatred. Amongst Christians, however, we are called to consider it pure joy to have such trials (James 1:2). This is a tall order, especially... Continue Reading →
On Forgiveness
Dear Readers, Forgiveness is a strange and powerful thing. "I forgive..." and suddenly a particular sin or a multitude thereof is covered over. No longer do I hold this thing which you have done to me against you. You have committed an offense that you should pay for in some way. That is justice. But... Continue Reading →
Why Read Fiction?
My Dear Readers, What is the purpose of reading fiction? After all, it never really happened. It is a collection of made-up stories, some quite unrealistic. Yet, we turn to it so very often. Fictional works have become a part of who we are. Greek myths, Arthurian legend, the Chronicles of Narnia, The Lord of... Continue Reading →
Karragon’s Bane: Le Morte d’Arthur
The Battle of Camlann Atop flesh and bone, gold and jewels, the Black Dragon nursed his wounds. Dark was the cave where he brooded wrathfully, miserable with the weight of his failure. How had it come to this? A terror he’d been once. Yes, a terror, one who all Albion learned to fear. Long ago,... Continue Reading →
Karragon’s Bane: The Guardian of Avalon
Eastward he went, cursing himself as he traveled: what nonsense was this? Lost and with no means of survival, he had listened the word of the wind. Anger overtook him as distant memories began to appear in his mind. A great stone hall, draped in deep red and amethyst. Great warriors. Knights. Large feasts, smooth... Continue Reading →
A Grief Observed: C.S. Lewis And The Truth About Pain
My Dear Readers, Answers. We are all alike in that as human beings, we want answers. Why did this happen? What causes this thing? How does this work? We want answers; we like solutions. We like to make sense of our little corners of the world. It feels good when things make sense, because we... Continue Reading →
Karragon’s Bane: The Forest
My Dear Readers, As a quick aside, you may note that this is not like my usual content. This is my first attempt in at least eleven years at fiction. This project draws a lot of inspiration from the Inklings, namely Tolkien and Lewis, as well as countless other authors and great tales from centuries... Continue Reading →
Chivalry and Christianity
The knight is a man of blood and iron, a man familiar with the sight of smashed faces and the ragged stumps of lopped-off limbs; he is also a demure, almost a maidenlike, guest in hall, a gentle, modest, unobtrusive man. He is not a compromise or a happy mean between ferocity and meekness; he... Continue Reading →
Remember You Will Die: How Christ Reshapes Death
"Lord, accept me in repentance. Lord, do not abandon me. Lord, lead me not into temptation. Lord, grant me good thoughts. Lord, grant me tears, remembrance of death, and compunction..." ~Orthodox Christian Prayers, St. Tikhon's Monastery Press. My Dear Readers, Death is inevitable. Some know this better than others. Given my own strange relationship with... Continue Reading →
What is Love?
My Dear Readers, Recently, for various reasons, I began to consider the meaning of love. What is love? I don’t think there is a quality in the world so misunderstood as love. I don't quite understand it myself. It's very puzzling for all of us, and this is my best attempt at an answer. So... Continue Reading →