I read from Henri Nouwens and Parker Palmer’s “Let Your Life Speak” this morning in my meditation class at the Mansion. Houwens wrote about eternal life as a glorious beginning, not a tragic end.

I was once again struck by how seriously the residents meditate, look inward, and stay calm. We have talked a great deal about the power of vocation as opposed to the power of a job.

Parker Palmer wrote eloquently about the power of vocation, which is just as possible for  secular people as for the religious. My vocation is my farm, my blog, my pictures. Some find God. I talked to the residents about finding a vocation at any age.

“Vocation does not come from willfulness,” wrote Palmer in his book, “it comes from listening. I must listen to my life and try to understand what it is  truly about – quite apart from what I would like it to be about – or my life will never represent anything real in the world, no matter how earnest my intentions.”

As he often does, Palmer wrote straight out of my heart. That is precisely what I have been working on: what my life is about as opposed to what I wish it were or what someone else told me it should do.

As is my Medication Class custom, I took two photos of first-timers to my class and one of a regular, Rachel. I met Dan, who had just come to the Mansion with his wife.

He told me about poetry and surprised me by reciting two T.S. Eliott poems from memory. I’m eager to get to know him better. The Mansion residents never fail to surprise and amaze me. He is a poet.

Mary is new to the Mansion. This was her first time in meditation class. I love her soft and genuine smile. It took me a couple of years to realize how beautiful the residents are. I thank my cameras for helping me see that.

The real Maria. Maria had finished reading her poem, and I took photos of the new class members. She couldn’t resist. It’s yet another revealing portrait of her.

Maria was reading a poem from Mary Kellogg’s “How To Dance” book. Claudia was paying very close attention.

Rachel is learning to meditate for the first time and enjoying it. She says she is learning to be calm, feel safe, and understand more and more about who she is.

The class has become vital to me, and lately, Maria has been coming with me to read some poetry to the residents. They love hearing from here. I do some breathing exercises with them, and then we meditate together. Susan says she gets nervous while meditating and doesn’t get it, but she hasn’t missed a class.

Mansion aide Lily, a close friend of Zinnia