Editorial

The Quest to Emancipate Labor Peter Mommsen Why do we work? The dream of a truly human economy spans millennia, from Genesis to Marx to Martin Luther King.

Reflections

In the Holy Land, Seeking the Solace of the Cross Stephanie Saldaña In a year wracked by violence, I remember the crucifixion to find comfort.

Essays

The Improbable Revival of the Cloister Shira Telushkin Why are so many young Catholic women choosing radical seclusion as cloistered nuns? Sailing with the Greeks Adam Nicolson Setting out to sea in a small sailboat, I taste the liquid freedom that Homer extolled. The Workism Trap Bobby Jamieson No, your career is not your path to fulfillment. The Divine Rhythm of Work and Sabbath Alastair Roberts The Bible’s story of labor begins in Eden – and its ending is still to come. A journey from Genesis to the Apocalypse. Following the Clues of the Universe Alister McGrath Can Sherlock Holmes help us find meaning in life? Detective stories and murder mysteries hint at how to make sense of our world. Why I Love Metalworking Norann Voll Teaching me his craft, my father showed me the value of manual work.

Personal History

Passing On the Farm to My Daughter James Rebanks A record-breaking bull showed that my eighteen-year-old is ready to start taking my place.

Reading

Work that Glorifies God Dorothy L. Sayers, Miroslav Volf, Leo Tolstoy and Francis of Assisi Four thinkers consider the purpose of work.

Poetry

Poem: “The Eye” Christian Wiman Among the monks was one who kept apart. / A gifted pray-er, they said of him, / who sensed my faith was mostly faith in art.

Editors’ Picks

Who Will Help a Stranded Manatee? Boze Herrington A. M. Juster’s children’s picture book Girlatee smuggles a timely message into a breezy tale. The Story Behind Handel’s Messiah Alan Koppschall Charles King’s book Every Valley details the desperate lives and troubled times that gave birth to Handel’s masterpiece. A Delicious History of a Humble Fruit Hadden Turner A review of Sally Coulthard’s new book The Apple: A Delicious History.

Family and Friends

Feeding Neighbors with America’s Grow-a-Row Mary Grace Mangano How a family gardening project grew into an organization spanning twenty-two states. Dancing with Neighbors Tessa Carman Saying no to certain kinds of tech makes more room for living.

Bible Reflection

Stanley Hauerwas’s Provocations Tish Harrison Warren America’s theologian isn’t worried about the death of cultural Christianity.

Community Snapshot

The Rewards of Elder Care Maureen Swinger At the Bruderhof, I’ve learned that caregiving can be draining – and also immensely enriching.

Forum

Readers Respond Readers respond to Plough’s Winter 2025 issue, Educating Humans.

Doers

Building the Sow Shed Brian D. Miller There’s nothing quite like driving nails together in an ice storm to prove you’ve found the right work – and the right partner.

Interview

The Work of the Poet Christian Wiman An acclaimed American poet gives a glimpse into the workday of a literary artist.

Report

Warehouse Workers of Paris Find Their Voice Benoît Gautier In de-industrializing France, a shuttle bus is workers’ last link to stability. Building Solidarity in Europe’s Gig Economy Ben Wray Food-delivery bike riders in London, Berlin, and Copenhagen are pushing back against their algorithmic bosses. Good Cops John Clair As my town’s police chief, I want my work to focus on relationships, not statistics.

Forerunners

Ora et Labora: The Benedictine Work Ethic William P. Hyland Benedict of Nursia, the father of Western monasticism, teaches us to fuse prayer and work.