By James Roseman

An essay adapting the opening setting of Habits of the Heart, Resource Publications, 2023.

“. . . I am at a loss to know where, besides these dissenting young people and their heirs of the next few generations, the radical discontent and innovation can be found that might transform this disoriented civilization of ours into something a human being can identify as home.”

Theodore Rosak, The Making of a Counter Culture

. . .

The hubris of my sophomore year in college captured the irony of the term. A little Plato, Aristotle, and Cicero is better than none, just as is a little history, literature, poetry, theology, and science. But as good as better-than-none is, it is not much better. It can sometimes be worse.

Jim's Story . . . from Chapter One - Serendipity at the Oasis

Spring 1967

The rushing waters of change and conflict deluged the campus, the whole country it seemed.

The frenzy of spring break plans was palpable. In our dorm room, my roommate John urged me to come to San Francisco with him and some buddies. To the heartbeat of change at a place called Haight Ashbury, he said. I was curious and in some ways was inclined to go. But I was so conflicted inside by all the noise of the world that I also wouldn’t mind a rest from it all.

Just then, someone hollered out, “Jim, you got a call!” I went out into the busy hall, grabbed the receiver, and covered my open ear so I could hear. It was my mom, saying everybody’s gathering in Little Rock for Easter—our whole extended family had always gathered at my grandparents on holidays as far back as I could remember. Mom had mentioned it before, hoping I was coming. But I hadn’t made a commitment, a bad habit I’d developed. There was no doubt she wanted me there.

Thinking somehow it might help me make sense of what was going on in the world, I thought maybe I should go to California. But I could hear the subtle plea in Mom’s voice on the phone—she never seems to just ask straight out, but you can always tell what she wants. She wanted me there with her and Dad and my brothers and everyone else. I was torn.

I threw a few things in a bag before going to bed. I’d head out to Little Rock the next day.

Jim's grandfather "Daddy" Claude's Story . . . from Chapter Two - So Important, So Permanent

Late Autumn 1904

The Beginning: Hoggin’ Day

A pack of coyotes was hollering in the distance as I stood on the front porch, hands stuffed in the pockets of the fur-collared half jacket Mama had made me. They got ‘em a deer or something. The moon was bright in the western sky—enough to paint eerie shadows with giant limbs on the darkened ground below, the leaves all but gone. It was late November, and the morning was crisp. It always was in Southern Illinois that time of the year. Despite my autumn excitement, I could see winter was not far off.

It’d been cold long enough—two-weeks straight—so it was time.

I woke early that day, so early the sun wouldn’t break the horizon for another hour and a half—everybody in the family always kidded me about being industrious. Uncle Jim called me indefatigable, a word I’d never heard.

With the moonlight to see by, I decided to drain the big watering trough I knew we’d need. Though eager, the way I felt on Christmas morning, I decided to wait till Papa was up to gather the other supplies. I came back to the porch and sat tipped back on two legs against the wall in his ladderback chair like a grown-up. With anxious anticipation I stared across the moonlit meadow into the quiet, peaceful morning.

. . .

Everyone had taken their work gloves and aprons off, washed up in one of the cleaned and refilled hundred-gallon bins, and gathered to sit along the big table. Grandfather Bill sat at one end and Uncle Jim at the other. Uncle Jim stood, raised a glass of cider, and declared loudly,

“Good, successful day everyone! Now, let’s return thanks. We thank you, Lord, for all your good gifts, and for life itself. Please keep us with these provisions for another year and continue to bless our family and friends. Thank you, Jesus, for this food. Amen. Let’s eat!”

The feast was great that night. I felt closer to becoming a man than I’d ever felt before.

As the coals in the two nearby firepits turned gray and the younger kids fell asleep in the laps of their mothers, aunts, and cousins, I looked around at everyone sitting about the table. I’d grown close to Uncle Jim that day and I felt at home among my big family like never before.

Papa and Mama and I gathered everything together in the now almost pitch-dark night and loaded our crew in the wagon. It was time to start home. Without old Jesse lumbering in tow but packed in the back, as we pulled out, I knew it wouldn’t take long.

A light, smoky fog was descending, but through a break I saw the moon again.

God, it’d been such a great day. If I had a dream back then of what my life would be, I’m sure it was simple. To become a man and someday assume Papa’s role on the farm, eventually to have a family of my own and take care of Papa and Mama in their old age. That’s probably what I and all my nine-year-old cousins imagined our future to be. That’s the way it was and always had been as far as I knew. It was impossible, then, for me to see life any other way.

Until the fire. That fire changed everything.

So begins Jim's story looking for an oasis from the storm of the world only to find it buried deep within the saga of triumphs and tragedies of his grandfather's story, So begins Habits of the Heart. 

Read what others are saying about this book and the impact it has had on their lives. These testimonials are real-reader impressions of Habits of the Heart.

"JAMES, your book and this story is AMAZING!!!! Your book, via Amazon delivery, arrived at my house late afternoon yesterday..... I read until I feel asleep last night, and avoided doing some things I am SHOULD have done this morning ----so I could read some more. I am forcing myself put your book down now, because I have obligations that I need to tend to. . . it is so RICH with meaning!!!-------- It is so RELEVANT to our lives today, and for what we are all experiencing in 2023!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH for creating this captivating story from the lives of wise and God honoring family members, who preceded you!! What a BLESSING!!" 

"I completed your AMAZING book, Habits of the Heart, only moments ago.🤩WOW!!!🤩🤩🤩What a profound & compelling story!!!!! . . . I believe [your friend] Daniel Taylor speaks truth when he says, "Your are the product of all the stories you have heard....." James, THANK YOU for making our world a little brighter by sharing THIS story with us! My world is a brighter by having read it. May God richly bless you, and allow MANY, MANY people the opportunity to experience this amazing story!"

"Awesome book…could not put it down!" 

"Wow, Jimmy! I finished the book today, and it was a most enjoyable read. In many instances, I was able to separate fact from fiction (which most people could not do), but it was an interesting story. I recognized several family stories; and although the time or place was different, they were interwoven in such a way that they fit perfectly. I also detected what I call evidences of "Jimmy twists " and "Jim, the scholar" (a compliment), which I thought added to your purpose in writing.

Your details during the WWII indicated to me an amazing amount of research, and added to the drama of that time in our family.

And, of course, I loved my Daddy; and to walk through all those years (even though parts were imagined) was a wonderful experience -- a good reminder of my good fortune to be a part of such a 

loving family.

You proved your point regarding the things that matter most in life. Thanks for this special work."   

(From one of my aunts - who I am sure is biased - but even so she liked it.)

Ready to start your journey with Jim through the amazing story of his grandfather, Claude Howell?

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