Author: Brandon Spun

Each word is like a gem that shines with a distinct luster, that possesses a distinct virtue of its own, one that will offset various settings and occasions uniquely. Thus rhetoric is as the jeweler’s art in its attention to clarity, harmony, and integrity of speech, in all its parts and as a whole. And … Continue reading On the Necessity of Rhetoric

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12). It would be a problem if Wisdom Literature was written only for the wise! Rather, it is written from wisdom for wisdom. This is no paradox; it is divine pedagogy, in which form and content meet most felicitously. Habits of … Continue reading The Heart of Wisdom Literature: Reflecting on the Form and Content of Ecclesiastes

What makes a difficult reading?  Some texts are dense. Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason comes to mind. Others are poorly written, and I will not name names. Though I do have beef with the overuse of adjectives, particularly in contemporary children’s young adult literature. Some books presuppose significant prior learning, while others simply have very … Continue reading Difficult Reading: A Descent into Hell

Betrayed  “May I speak with you, my Liege?” “Come in, Deacon.” “I am troubled.” “What troubles you?” “I have not received my promotion.” “Are you sure?” “Yes, my Lord.” “You seem grieved.” “Have I not served you well? Have I not labored for you?” “You have labored.” “Then am I not ready to enter further … Continue reading Betrayed

And the seven left no offspring. Last of all the woman also died. In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife.” Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God? … Continue reading And the Seven Left no Offspring: An Allegorical Reflection on Sunday’s Reading

Midway upon the journey of our life, I awoke to find myself in a strange place, listless, and lost. I turned and cried out, “Where is my cookie?” Sanctification is sweet, but also disorienting. It is a kind of unmooring: the cutting of ties and the loosing of old cables. There is a spiritual landscape … Continue reading What hast Thou Done with my Cookie? A Tale of the Carrot and the Stick

Pay very close attention to your grades Grades are the things of which character, joy, and knowledge are made of. But they are wily little buggers that are bound to do all sorts of stuff if you don’t watch them. Your father and mother love you, but they are probably far away. Even if they … Continue reading How to Sabotage your (College) Education in Five Easy Steps:

The heavy foot which is light in Heaven does rejoice the host of intelligences, who hush themselves,even before sole doth rise from Earth. Greater than all the oceansof a world which would make a moon of ours, comes forth a roar to meet that laborious victory, even when light hath not yet passed the space … Continue reading The Heavy Foot which is Light in Heaven does Rejoice