Often I think of Wendell Berry, and where he stands right now regarding the state of this crazy world. I am fairly confident that, as a Christian, he realizes that we are living in biblical times o verily, and no doubt takes consolation in the fact that the return of Jesus is imminent (in whatever way one wishes to interpret this). Nevertheless, I cannot help wondering if, at age 87, he is also rather distraught by the trajectory we’re on. Or maybe he is fully at peace, knowing that God is ultimately in control? That’s what I’m hoping, at least.
I first learned of Wendell Berry by way of my idol, the author snd artist, Harlan Hubbard, a close friend of my teacher (a sculptor and philosopher), whom I studied with at a private studio in Kentucky. Having had the honor to meet Harlan Hubbard (known by some as “the modern-day Thoreau”) and his goats on two separate occasions at his non-electrified homestead in the woods at Payne Hollow, I became instantly smitten, and decided to emulate his self-sufficient way of life without modern technology; he was my prototype. How utterly thrilled I was to eventually discover that a biography was written about Harlan, by none other than Wendell Berry, also from Kentucky. I had no idea who his biographer was; but anyone who was a friend of Monsieur Hubbard was a friend of mine. After voraciously consuming this biography, I decided to look into this fellow, Wendell Berry, and instantly fell in love with both his poetry and essays; eventually I also came to read his fiction. I was in my late twenties and living on my first farm in Norway at the time, and everything he wrote of resonated perfectly with me. Also, the fact that he had befriended his Amish neighbors was another reason to revere him. (I have always “identified” as part Amish: the percentage I consider myself to be Amish has fluctuated through the years; at the moment I’d say I’m 65%.) And that he preferred draft horses over tractors for farm work was the icing on the cake!!! Thereafter I read every Wendell Berry book I could get my hands on. Both my Norwegian husbands also read his books and loved him. It was inevitable that I, as a devout letter-writer, should send a hand-written epistle, of course, since neither he nor I had anything to do with computer technology. I described my life on my roadless farm on the fjord in Norway, and how we aspired to homeschool our children, and keep them away from things like television and Barbie dolls and McDonald’s…. It wasn’t long before I received a reply, and thence forth a few letters here and there through the years were exchanged. Eventually we were invited to visit the Berrys on their farm; but sadly, I decided not to go, as my eldest son, Isak, then circa one and a half, would’ve been screaming non-stop during the fourteen hour car-ride from our home town in Connecticut (where our parents lived, whom we were visiting) to Port Royal, Kentucky. However, my husband Erik and his youngest brother Thomas went without me; and although I was very happy for them to be able to meet Wendell Berry and his sweet wife, Tanya, to this day I am extremely jealous that my husband and brother-in-law got to sit on the front porch of that farmhouse and converse with one of the most important authors and farmers of my entire existence…. Years later, I even consulted with Wendell when I was contemplating divorcing Erik, and, thank God, he gave me his blessing, which was a tremendous relief! Perhaps it is time to provide him with an update of my life: how I left my idyllic farm in Norway in order to return to my homeland and partake in the long-dreamt-of community I never managed to have in the desolate north but have discovered thriving here, in upstate New York? Once again, somehow I think Wendell Berry would in fact approve. (Actually, I might need to go visit him, now………. Finally!)
- Jenny Hampe Endresen