“It has always been a happy thought to me that the creek runs on all night, new every minute, whether I wish it or know it or care, as a closed book on a shelf continues to whisper to itself its own inexhaustible tale.”
― Annie Dillard, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
I love this quote by Annie Dillard, and it brings to mind two things I adore: creeks and books, which then brings to my heart warm feelings of gratitude for Prairiewoods because one of my favorite creeks and one of my favorite libraries live there.
At Prairiewoods there are two bookshelves in the library that are my very favorite, and those two shelves make up the Celtic spirituality section. Every book in the library was thoughtfully selected by Sister Betty Daugherty, and it’s one of the many ways her legacy lives on at Prairiewoods. Nestled within the shelves of the Celtic section are books by John O’Donohue, Caitlin Matthews, John Philip Newell and Christine Valters Paintner. These four authors (like the leaves of a four-leaf clover) have been a source of great blessing and spiritual deepening for me. Among the pages of their books, I’ve discovered lines so special I feel like I’m finding four-leaf clovers with every page turn.
One of my favorite books by Caitlin Matthews is called The Celtic Spirit: Daily Meditations for the Turning of the Year. In the early winter morning of Jan. 20, I lit a candle, made coffee and read the meditation for the day, which was about Spiritual Navigation. I’ve gone back to this meditation many times. I’ve thought about it and pondered for nearly three seasons. Matthews writes that, “The art of spiritual navigation is one that few are taught in our era. If we are fortunate enough to have a spiritual director or adviser as companion along our way, then we receive expert guidance when difficulties arise. A sensitive advisor does not attempt to solve our problems but makes suggestions and gives resourceful clues.” I consider myself extremely blessed to have many spiritual companions along my journey, many of whom I’ve met at Prairiewoods.
Matthews goes on to write that, “The chief aid to our personal exploration is our own spiritual practice. In our meditation, in our prayerful listening, in our silent attunement, we derive a good deal of navigational information.” At the end of the meditation the reader is invited to, “Begin to note and map your spiritual journey using a diary, chart, and/or set of pictures to which you can refer and add to regularly.”
I have a tiny pocket journal that contains some navigational notes of my spiritual journey. On the first page of the journal, I hand lettered a quote by one of my favorite Celtic Christian authors. To me the quote both describes my journey as it has been so far, and it is also aspirational for the journey as it continues:
“I would love to live like a river flows, carried by the surprise of its own unfolding.”
―John O’Donohue
—Angie Pierce Jennings, Prairiewoods hosted groups and hospitality coordinator