Perry Miller...Errand Into The Wilderness...Walden Afterword

Thanks for including Perry Miller in the readings. His perspective about The Bay Company was very interesting and new to me. The thought that "The Bay Company was not a battered remnant of suffering Separatists thrown up on a rocky shore; it was an organized task force of Christians, executing a flank attack on the corruptions of Christendom". Oh my goodness I sat right up and read that again and continued on in rapture. I have often wondered why people would have endured the hardships and struggles related to traveling to this new land simply to seek religious freedom. There had to be more!!! Wow there is so much more than my simple and rather stunted view of New England. The article also helped me tie some of the other characters we are reading about together and understand Winthrop, Mather and Bradstreet and their very European roots and lives! Duh! I have European roots that are so very far removed that it has skewed my perspective about these people. These are Englishmen not yet Americans! What fun this is!!!

Afterword...
I truly wish that I had read Miller's Afterword about Walden first. Again his perspective allowed me the opportunity to see Thoreau in a different light. I waded through the book at times in pain I must admit!! Now on my second reading as suggested by Miller I am feeling the beauty of his prose while not allowing myself to be intimidated by his genius. I think he would like the red rock country of Southern Utah and my pond and my view of the La Sal Mountains. I even think he might have quite enjoyed my thoughts about clouds and hail and the simple joys of burning weeds to clear my land this weekend! I was inspired to be joyful while I labored in such a beautiful place. I think that is Thoreau's deal!!!