This morning, our Care Team met in Duke Gardens for a reflection led by Lee Anderson.

Lee has been part of the North Street Community since 2010, sharing life for some time as a housemate with folks at Corner House, serving as a care provider for a neighbor, and more. During our time of reflection, we focused on what it means to be in community, and how it can be difficult sometimes to love others. Lee shared this story and writing by Thérèse of Lisieux. While this is a Christian reflection, he invited us to think about our Creator and/or the Divine. As we were sent off into the gardens to think about this writing from the 19th century, he encouraged us to think of someone who pushes our buttons— Yes, there may be something (or some things) that may be annoying, but there is so much more we can realize about someone when we go beyond the surface, into the inner world, into the divine dwelling of this person and notice their gifts. Our reflection prompt was not only think of this person, but to model after Saint Thérèse, and pray/reflect: Creator, whatever it is you love about this person, I offer this up in thanksgiving. It was a blessing to be in such a beautiful place and to listen and learn from one another. May you also find a blessing in this reading to guide you in community.