‘Ive been reading lately about Sir Roger Scruton from Great Britain who died on January 12. As the dust of his life scatters, I’m appreciating his enduring imprint. I see patterns resonating with themes that pervade the book I’m currently writing.1
Every person’s life illustrates patterns. Patterns worth repeating and patterns worth avoiding. I’m trying to illustrate each concept in my book with true stories. I discover good stories in my listening, reading, and daily living.
Listening to Sir Roger speak, I sense grounded reasonableness (for the most part) carried on the soft breezes of his temperament. Even his striking criticisms of modernity leave me quiet in spirit rather than agitated.
I suppose his tone is shaped by his full-faced acceptance of his humanity and mortality (rooted long before his cancer diagnosis) plus his compassionate awareness that the rest of us grasp no more than he does. In our hubris (ignoring our brevity), he is humble for us. We should learn.
Sir Roger is a British philosopher (a lover of beauty and truth), a conservative (wanting to conserve the rich roots of his culture), an author and professor, a husband and a father. I write in present tense, because Sir Roger’s life and legacy are still here, even though he does not walk among us.
In contrast to the high brow of the humble Sir Roger (about whom I listen and read), my daily living is currently in Florida, among the needs of dear friends I’m calling Mick and Lilly. Not highbrow. But like Sir Roger, respectable, humble, limited, and needy. Lilly knows she’s needy. Mike doesn’t.
Journey North Character 