Friends,

I heard a snippet of a podcast the other day that talked about how the inaugural addresses of U.S. presidents have consistently been aimed at audiences that are less and less sophisticated. This isn’t a surprise. The dumbing down is inarguable.

President Washington began his first inaugural speech with these words: “Among the vicissitudes incident to life no event could have filled me with greater anxieties than that of which the notification was transmitted by your order, and received on the 14th day of the present month.”

President Biden began his inaugural with these words: “This is America’s day.”

Schools are not going to play any role in restoring the public’s ability to communicate at Washington’s level. Schools played no role in the public’s abilities in Washington’s day either. It wasn’t education — it was just reading. Still though, it feels sad, doesn’t it? I don’t like the idea of being dumber — a lot dumber — than people hundreds of years ago. Do you?

This is one reason why I think we should be reading the Puritans. Many of the ideas are complex and worthy of contemplation. Consider this excerpt from the Valley of Vision:

“Let me learn by paradox…that the way down is the way up…that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit…that to have nothing is to possess all.”

Grappling with these ideas requires time and concentration. May we take our faith seriously, knowing that God intended us to use the intellect we’ve been given.

Praise be to his glorious name forever;
    may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen and Amen. Psalm 72:19

With Love,

Kristie