I had the privilege of getting back to Pennsylvania where I grew up to take some vacation time and visit friends and family. It was this nostalgic tour of eating my favorite Pennsylvania foods — Mallow Cups, Primanti’s sandwiches, and gobs — as well as enjoying the beauty of a Northeastern fall. I love Alaska, but I do miss more of the fall colors in the Northeast.

One of my favorite stops was visiting my alma mater, Seton Hill University. Seton Hill, not Seton HALL, is named for Sister Elizabeth Ann Seton, one of the Sisters of Charity in the Roman Catholic Church. Before going to SHU, I had never heard of Sister Elizabeth, but I grew to love her wisdom about life and faith. She once said:

The love of talk distracts all the powers of our soul from God, and fills them with earthly objects and impressions, like a vessel of water that cannot be settled while you are continually stirring the earthly particles from the bottom.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t realize how distracted I am from connecting with God or the Divine until I feel pretty cloudy. I feel agitated and out of sorts, disconnected from routine and ritual, because I haven’t taken the time to be quiet and listen. Reading these words, it makes so much sense. I often feel like I don’t allow myself enough time to still my heart, quiet my voice, and listen for God’s murmuring.

Think about how calming it is to see the river flow when it’s that perfect clear water rolling over brown stones versus when it’s all stirred up and you can’t see the bottom. While my vacation is over, I’m hoping to hear Sister Elizabeth’s words and allow the water to settle, to allow the water to clear and for the words of God to come into my heart and my being.

Peace,

Pastor Meredith Harber ministers at Christ Lutheran Church, 128 N. Soldotna Ave. Worship at 10 a.m. on Sundays in person or on Facebook Live