Two months ago, I felt a strange burning sensation that I couldn’t quite place. I was compelled to search for the cure, and it came in the form of three Jacques: Jacques Derrida, Jacques Maritain, and Jacques Ellul. The jacques-itch seemed incurable. The lack of college level reading material in my life left me feeling somewhat dull. I can only handle so much exposure to uneducated authors.
Derrida left a few scars, so I’ve not turned to peer again in his direction as of yet. Ellul, on the other hand, has provided just the relief I was looking for. Of course, I had to use interlibrary loan to get ahold of Ellul’s book, The Meaning of the City, and then I had to return it before I had the chance to finish. Luckily for me, my mother-in-law ordered a copy of it for me through Amazon and it should be arriving in the next few days.
There are some radical and insightful ideas in Ellul’s book about the formation, meaning, and purpose of cities. More to come on the subject once my copy of the book arrives. I also received a copy of his meditations on Ecclesiastes for Christmas. I’m really looking forward to that one as soon as I finish the first.
Happy New Year! Remember, if you begin to feel that uncomfortable burning sensation known as jacques-itch, I can refer you to a specialist!