Letter from the Acting President November 2022

Dear Reader,

Earlier this week I was honored to be asked to deliver the invocation for The Women’s Home’s

annual luncheon. I found this to be especially meaningful because it gave me a chance to reflect on

aspects of life and work that are important but not always given focused attention.

For this month’s newsletter, in anticipation of gathering around the table with family and friends

this holiday season, I thought that I would share a modified version of the invocation with you.

Perhaps it will prompt reflection as we move into this sacred time of year.

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For the past 9 years, the Institute for Spirituality and Health, Houston Grand Opera, and a team of

wonderful volunteers have run Courage to Search, a spiritual exploration program that seeks to

help clients of The Women’s Home discover and give voice to their most important, deeply held

beliefs. Together, we ask “the big questions,” leaning into creativity and mutual support as we

consider answers to them.

So, to begin, I have a question for you …

How do you describe your spiritual garden?

In what corner of the garden are the fruits sweetest? What needs watering?

What words can one use to describe the indescribable?

Service to others is like fertilizer, sun, and rain for the spiritual garden.

Service helps us remember those things that are so essential and yet so easily forgotten. Those

things that are right here, but which in the depths of suffering seem out of reach. Those things

which are ready to spring forth from the earth, with just a little attention and cultivation.

So, how do you describe your spiritual garden?

This garden is a place where togetherness blooms, as loneliness withers away.

It is a place where the fragrance of joy envelops us, as the winds of compassion carry away the

burdens of sorrow.

In this garden, the texture of grace becomes familiar, because the thorns of cruelty are pruned.

We can hear birds signing songs of awe, and the beat of butterfly wings steadily drumming the

rhythm of forgiveness and hope.

In this garden, the dawn-light of love erupts, as coldness dissipates into the night.

The spiritual garden thrives in this home.

We know that home is not a place – it is these feelings, this spirit, the people gathered at this table.

And, it feels good to be home.

As we call to heart and mind our spiritual garden and the joy of being home together, let us be still.

Oh, transcendent mystery of many names, great spirit, higher power, the most near and the most

far reaching…

At this moment, we are joined together in love for service. We strive to unfold ever more fully into

connectedness, joy, grace, love, awe, and countless other feelings and ways of being that are signs

of your presence.

We do not take for granted the nourishment before us, and the gift of health.

We express gratitude for those striving to affect positive change in the world.

We recognize the strength, potential, and humanity of those who are suffering, praying that they

are able to find their way to peace, meaning, and wholeness.

Indeed, we give thanks for the spiritual garden, which day by day grows ever more vibrant and

teeming, so long as we continue to witness and care for it.

Amen.

With Peace and Warmth,

Stuart C. Nelson, MA

Acting President

Executive Vice President