Spiritual Storytelling
A dear former DC neighbor recently posted photos to commemorate her third-year anniversary of having moved to Washington. I was so pleasantly surprised to find the following, front-and-center, among the featured photos on her Facebook post:

Kathleen DuBois took this photo in December of 2015 during the Holiday Party Julie and Anne organize every year — in December and on a slightly lower scale, in June — for the Oblate Sisters of Providence. On a chilly Saturday morning, we all piled into cars at the brisk hour of 7:30 a.m., ready with gifts special to the needs of each of the nuns, as well as goodies to share during a delightful communal brunch. By nine o’clock we had arrived at the sisters’ convent and school outside of Baltimore.
The order of the Oblate Sisters of Providence was founded on July 2, 1829 by a Cuban nun, Mother Mary Lange, who hailed from Santiago de Cuba, and a French-born Sulpician priest, Father Joubert. As described in the order’s website:
Oblate Sisters of Providence History
The nuns run “the oldest continuously operating school for black Catholic children in the United States and is still educating children in Baltimore” (Oblate Sisters of Providence website).
A number of years ago, the very special duo of Julie and Anne decided to give back to these equally special women who devote all their energies and time to educating children…and to their commitment and service in the name of God.
The gatherings also include artistic presentations. Julie knew I dabbled in writing, so she suggested that I contribute. I may be shy at some levels, but there is a “closet” entertainer in me :-)! I attended in December 2014, June 2015, and December 2015. The following are two of what I deem my “spiritual storytelling” that I felt would be appropriate pieces.
Both the sisters and lay members of the audience liked the following:
Jumpstart
On auto pilot
I veered onto Granada
Made it to Anastasia
Turned right
Almost headed past The Biltmore
Turned right again
And found myself in a parking lot.
I was looking for The Church of the Little Flower.
Inquiring of a wet-haired woman,
She said she needed a jumpstart, instead:
Did I have the time?
Yes: nothing like the present to gather positive karma.
Outside. Inside. It doesn’t matter where.
Mechanically challenged, I opened the hood —
The rest is up to you, I told her,
As she figured out how to pry the battery lid open.
Red and black:
We connected.
Thank you.
You’re welcome.
At least one of us knew what she was doing.
You shouldn’t stereotype, she said, in her slight accent.
Where are you from? I’m English.
I’m a humorist, I responded.
Dry wit — you know dry wit, she asked.
You can write this up.
Jumpstart, I said.
She agreed.
Now where’s the church, I asked.
She told me.
It was her turn to jumpstart me.
In June 2015, I presented the following:
Soul Transfer
Wind-whipped thrush struck pane
With feathery flutter passed
Now snow is his grave.
I have been experimenting with haikus for several years now. I’ll never forget that little bird that shared its final material moments with me. Yes, the audience was touched.
Now I am touched that Kathleen gave me a place of honor on her post (or is this Facebook’s doing :-o?). Wow, she — and Julie, Anne, the other special folks in that picture — and the nuns — have just jump-started me!!
Thank you :-)!!
Happy 188th anniversary to the Oblate Sisters of Providence!


