Soul Seeing

“Be still and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:11).

Growing up Catholic nobody taught me to listen to God. Parents and teachers taught me to talk to God. They said prayer was praising God, telling him you love him or you’re sorry, asking God for something and then thanking him whether you got it or not. The only person who suggested that prayer was listening to God was my Uncle Barney, who was a Protestant, and I didn’t pay attention to him because he was Protestant, what did he know?

Soul Seeing: If you had leprosy and lost almost everything, would you still be able to smile and do a dance to a silent tune of gratitude?

Soul Seeing: Life is like a big car wash: God gives us everything we need to get through it and come out shining, surrounded by bells and whistles.

Do you have a favorite painting or photograph or icon in your home that reminds you of what is good and beautiful and true? Chances are you have many. They are companions, soulmates, expressions of spiritual values.

Jennie and Darlene are arranging name tags on a folding table in front of the church. "Be my first?" I ask them. Mom and daughter beam. I take my first picture on this special day at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Glenville, N.Y. I'm Fran, the church office manager. It's a madcap job, but somebody's got to do it.