Laura Hammel

Weeks ago, I was listening to a podcast, and a meditation at the end caught my attention. The meditation presented an alternative value for the way we write our life story – the service of our hands.

The memory of a bird floating on a stream of air is an image for my spiritual life. In the beginning, there were things to learn, practices that are part of praying with others. There is another way that has developed over time for me.

I have adjusted to the reality of death but not to the absence of friends and family who are gone. It was earlier this year that I experienced death in a new way, when Laurene, our sister in community, died.

Something I learned as I lived in community: to harness my will and allow room for the will of others.

Although the outside world became quiet, I found that I had deep anxiety about this world pandemic. I watched as the number of deaths went up in the world and especially in my own state and those where friends live.

It takes time and experience to find and see the values and gifts in life. Friendships are one of these gifts, as I was reminded when five important people in my life died during this past year.