We don’t often take to heart the full implications of climate change. When we do, we may find ourselves feeling profoundly unsettled, questioning the ways we have made meaning of our place in the cosmos, on our old Earth, and in our own lives.

Every now and then an essay comes along that can help illuminate such philosophical explorations – and, in so doing, strengthen and deepen our spirit. Consider these:

• The lovely short piece by Matthew Myer Boulton and Joseph Heithaus, “We Are All Riders on the Same Planet,” a meditation on the Christmas Eve “Earthrise” photograph taken 50 years ago, considers, or reconsiders, our place in the cosmos.
• Robert McFarlane’s long essay, “What Lies Beneath,” looks at how we might see our place on our planet in the light of deep time, as what has been buried (in permafrost, in layers of ice, far underground) now comes to light. McFarlane, one of England’s most eloquent and thoughtful writers, can inspire us with the sheer grace and power of his language.
• In “Loving a Vanishing World,” Emily Johnston thinks carefully and clearly, in the context of environmental and climate crises, about such ancient and enduring questions as “What does my life mean?” and “How should I live?”

This series is curated and written by retired Colorado State University English professor and close climate change watcher SueEllen Campbell of Colorado. To flag works you think warrant attention, send an e-mail to her any time. Let us hear from you.