James Smith, citing photographer Sally Mann, observes that rowers face backward while rowing forward.
Smith goes on to say that his book, On the Road with St. Augustine, asks readers to take a similar posture.
Smith says:
“This book you are holding is an invitation to posture like that: to move forward by looking back, to make progress by considering ancient wisdom. To get in a boat headed for a new future, looking back to Augustine on the North African shore as a landmark to orient us” (xiii).
Of course, Smith’s point applies not only to St. Augustine, but to any consideration of the works, thought, and writings of those who’ve gone before us. The rower is a helpful image for the important work of reading those who’ve gone before in an effort to “keep the clean sea breeze of the centuries blowing through our minds,” as C. S. Lewis says.