In Response to Prompt 53 – Art and Life
1/25/2026
M. Irby
I am not a painter. I am not a carpenter or a plumber either, yet my house and my family require me to be competent in these trades in order to care for them. Such is the era we are in; much more will be expected of us than we are now prepared for. The place for creativity is not just showcases or clout, but the joining together of real problems with modest problem-solving.
I had a problem, a small one in the garage. The door to the kitchen opens all the way to a resting position against the wall in the garage. Any time it is swung open too forcefully, the handle bangs into the drywall and has left noticeable dents in the surface. There are many ways to solve this problem, but we have others to consider.
I have two young children; girls who will grow up in a generation where Artificial Intelligence is regarded as the source of answers. These girls will inevitably experience the burden of conformity and modern bore that we have felt steal our souls throughout life. They will also be tempted toward materialism or rationalism or any of the other popular atheistic tendencies to explain away all wonder and majesty. These are bigger problems.
This is Bop. If you ever come over to the Irby house, he’ll be guarding the doorhandle in the garage. Please mind his startled demeanor, he’s likely just had a nasty run-in with his adversary.
Ancient people have always revered the majesty and dangers of the world they did not create. The creatures you might recognize from C.S. Lewis’ stories or the worlds of Rowling or Tolkien show how the ancient myths and stories were used to give personality and character to these unknowns. In the medieval mind, reality is made of spiritual forces whereas the scientific revolution shifted our conception of reality as made of physical forces. Because the enlightenment project sought to do-away with the ancient superstitions, we also lost the wonder and virtues that were subconsciously tied to them.
The re-enchantment of our world is a demand that industry will not solve. The creativity required of us to reenchant the world is not something we have to invent, we just need to keep our eyes open to the miracle and tragedy all around us.
Many of my efforts as a father have been toward the re-enchantment of my family’s life so as to revive these dormant features of our souls. The garden, especially the critters that are drawn to it, have been part of that effort. Bop is our newest character, and I’m sure he’ll soon be joined by many other friends.