Any chance you have heard of the book “Craeft” by Alexander Langlands? It’s very much in line with being hefted to a place. It talks about ancient peoples, mostly in your part of the world, using their intimate knowledge and wisdom of their land to build and craft, practices and tools. Well worth reading if you haven’t done so yet.
You mentioned earlier in the essay how the sheep, in a place for many generations, heft themselves now. When you got to the end and were talking about pastors I thought you were going to also mention the role of parents as hefting their children to truth.
I am absolutely using this word from now on. Thanks for your kind contribution to my vocabulary.
Thank you! As a CofE priest, and as a huge fan of Wendell Berry and James Rebanks, and as one who grew up on a ranch in Texas, but has been centrifugally disconnected from my PLACE, this speaks deeply to me.
That is wonderful to hear James, I'm glad what I wrote has spoken deeply. James Rebanks is excellent, I am reading The Shepherd's Life at the moment after reading English Pastoral earlier this year. You must have plenty of stories from growing up on a ranch in Texas! And I am sure that the ranch will always feel like your place.
The challenge in this day and age when moving seems to be the norm rather than staying in one place (and often people move for good reason) is how we can bless the places we are currently in even if only for a short time? It is something I am currently really thinking through. I have only moved 500 metres in my life(!), but am planning on moving up to the North of England in a few years to find deeper community and closeness to the wild places (and also to plant myself in a small rural church which are sometimes neglected here in the UK). The question is how do I bless the small city I currently live in and know intimately. I have thoughts and may one day write them up.
I look forward to reading what you write, as it's a topic close to my heart. I am hoping that in the near future (once my teen children finish school) to take a church in a rural farming parish (maybe Wales?), for exactly the same reasons (their neglect, place, community, wild places - I am just starting a Wild Church here on the edge of Bristol). Blessings!
I love the comparisons and find it moving to think about the concept of being hefted to a place, and to morals. Though I am not a Christian, I can substitute in even more ancient earth based spiritual values. Our future depends on making wise and compassionate decisions.
Thanks Amber! The more I think about it the more I find this concept finds comparisons everywhere and is a lovely evocative word to describe the rootedness that many of us seek.
Definitely, our age needs more wise and compassionate decisions to be made!
Thanks, Caroline. It is a wonderful word and concept.
And yes, it must be so tough for those refugees who have been literally ripped from their places to unknown localities where they must start life again often with nothing but the clothes on their backs. That's where strong communities should open their arms and welcome into their existing tapestries (social communities) these new threads and weave these new threads (displaced people) into their community so the stranger feels like a friend.
Thanks for making this wonderful essay available. Excellent imagery and concepts, I will turn over the concept of hefting while I reassess my local connections and level of engagement.
Any chance you have heard of the book “Craeft” by Alexander Langlands? It’s very much in line with being hefted to a place. It talks about ancient peoples, mostly in your part of the world, using their intimate knowledge and wisdom of their land to build and craft, practices and tools. Well worth reading if you haven’t done so yet.
No, I haven't but that looks like a fascinating book - thank you for bringing it to my attention Daniel
You mentioned earlier in the essay how the sheep, in a place for many generations, heft themselves now. When you got to the end and were talking about pastors I thought you were going to also mention the role of parents as hefting their children to truth.
I am absolutely using this word from now on. Thanks for your kind contribution to my vocabulary.
Thank you! As a CofE priest, and as a huge fan of Wendell Berry and James Rebanks, and as one who grew up on a ranch in Texas, but has been centrifugally disconnected from my PLACE, this speaks deeply to me.
That is wonderful to hear James, I'm glad what I wrote has spoken deeply. James Rebanks is excellent, I am reading The Shepherd's Life at the moment after reading English Pastoral earlier this year. You must have plenty of stories from growing up on a ranch in Texas! And I am sure that the ranch will always feel like your place.
The challenge in this day and age when moving seems to be the norm rather than staying in one place (and often people move for good reason) is how we can bless the places we are currently in even if only for a short time? It is something I am currently really thinking through. I have only moved 500 metres in my life(!), but am planning on moving up to the North of England in a few years to find deeper community and closeness to the wild places (and also to plant myself in a small rural church which are sometimes neglected here in the UK). The question is how do I bless the small city I currently live in and know intimately. I have thoughts and may one day write them up.
I look forward to reading what you write, as it's a topic close to my heart. I am hoping that in the near future (once my teen children finish school) to take a church in a rural farming parish (maybe Wales?), for exactly the same reasons (their neglect, place, community, wild places - I am just starting a Wild Church here on the edge of Bristol). Blessings!
I love the comparisons and find it moving to think about the concept of being hefted to a place, and to morals. Though I am not a Christian, I can substitute in even more ancient earth based spiritual values. Our future depends on making wise and compassionate decisions.
Thanks Amber! The more I think about it the more I find this concept finds comparisons everywhere and is a lovely evocative word to describe the rootedness that many of us seek.
Definitely, our age needs more wise and compassionate decisions to be made!
Never before have I considered the word ‘hefted’ but it’s meaning and application to our lives is just where my thoughts have been lately.
It must be so incredibly difficult for those who are forced away from their ‘pasture’ whether that be physical, mental or spiritual.
Thank you so much for your excellent article, so well written and so much more to think about.
Thanks, Caroline. It is a wonderful word and concept.
And yes, it must be so tough for those refugees who have been literally ripped from their places to unknown localities where they must start life again often with nothing but the clothes on their backs. That's where strong communities should open their arms and welcome into their existing tapestries (social communities) these new threads and weave these new threads (displaced people) into their community so the stranger feels like a friend.
Great article, thanks Hadden
Thanks for making this wonderful essay available. Excellent imagery and concepts, I will turn over the concept of hefting while I reassess my local connections and level of engagement.