That odd capacity for destitution, as if by nature we ought to have so much more than nature gives us. As if we are shockingly unclothed when we lack the complacencies of ordinary life. In destitution, even of feeling or purpose, a human being is more hauntingly human and vulnerable to kindnesses because there is the sense that things should be otherwise, and then the thought of what is wanting and what alleviation would be, and how the soul could be put at ease, restored. At home. But the soul finds its own home if it ever has a home at all.
In Marilynne Robinson's "Home," the author reflects on the inherent human condition of destitution, suggesting that our lives often fall short of our expectations and needs. The feeling of being deprived makes individuals acutely aware of their vulnerability, emphasizing a deep-seated desire for connection and security. This lack drives home the idea that true humanity thrives in moments of need, revealing the essential kindness that others can offer in response to...
