Sometime during my grade school years one of my teachers made a bulletin board that left a lasting impression on me. The title of the bulletin board was Perspective. The board was filled with photographs of ordinary places and ordinary objects shot from unusual points of view. I can still recall my confusion as I …

I have a stack of notecards on my desk. When I am moved by something I read, I will jot down a quote on one of the cards. One of my favorite notecard quotes is a saying from the Jewish Hasidic tradition that reads, Carefully observe the way your heart draws you and choose that …

I am a list-maker. List making is a wonderful tool for efficiency and productivity. My best days are days when my energy and list coincide and I quickly and efficiently complete one task after another, crossing off each item with a wonderful sense of accomplishment. Self-help guides would praise my habit of list making as …

When my son Patrick was three, I was invited to his pre-school for a performance. The children sang songs for the parents and I remember so clearly a sliver of stillness between songs. As one song ended and before another began, Patrick sought me out in the crowd, locked eyes with me, and in a …

Years ago a friend told me that she often pays attention to the way a person walks. She described the way a few of our mutual acquaintances walked and what each person’s pattern of walking revealed. Since then, I too notice the way people walk and even more importantly, I have learned to pay attention …

A few years ago, I was asked to give a reflection for the week of prayer for Christian unity at St. Vincent College. I stood at the podium before I began and looked out at the people gathered there. The crowd consisted of clergy from various Christian denominations, students, monks, lay people, as well as …

Several years ago, my daughter Molly moved back to Pennsylvania after living in California for a number of years. She had a small silver Hyundai Elantra and after packing it with all of her things, there was room for one passenger so I flew across the country to accompany her on the long drive. Wanting …

I recently read a novel by Rosamunde Pilcher called Wild Mountain Thyme. Amid life changing circumstances, one of the characters in the book is lamenting the loss of a seashell she had collected. She is told, “The sea has many gifts.” It is a statement of abundance, a statement of hope. When something is lost, …

Last week my daughter Molly came to Ligonier to visit with her sister Rebecca. I had to work that day, but decided to take my lunch hour in Ligonier at Rebecca’s house so I could visit with my daughters and grandchildren. When I came into the house my three-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter Rosie said, “Grandma, let me …

I am a creature of habit. I like to repeat things over and over again. I like the things that are familiar. I find strength, depth, and meaning in the repetition. The discipline of repeating was ingrained in me as a child through my participation in competitive gymnastics. Gymnastics practices consisted of repeating routines over …