MARY SUE AT MONTREAT

SUMMER 2009

Serenely, rocking back and forth on the porch of the Montreat Cottage, was
wonderful. In the quiet of this front porch oasis, delightful it was to watch
the teenage trio (Mahala~Josephine~Eric) arrive home, one-by-one from their
late afternoon small group.
Daily, under a heavy downpour, one would arrive at the front steps of the
cottage, then another, then another.
Stepping onto the porch, soaked in summer rain, Mahala would say to me;
Wheres Josephine and Eric? I would answer, Not here yet.
And off she went again looking for the other two.

Shortly thereafter, wrapped in raindrops, Josephine would climb the steps of

the porch and ask; Wheres Mahala and Eric? I would answer, Not here.
Mahala is out looking for you.
And off she went again looking for the other two.

Several minutes later, saturated in mountain storm, Eric would step onto the
porch and ask; Wheres Mahala and Josephine? I would answer, Not here.
Theyre both out looking.
And off he went again looking for the other two.

And there I sat admiring the peace and patience with which they absorbed the
daily downpours, much like the resilient magnolia blossoms seen all about the
North Carolina forest.

So while the trio would walk the grounds in search for one another, I savored
the luxury of the quiet in which to recall their insightful words expressed
throughout the week, whether sung from the cottage kitchen, exclaimed in the
back home living room, whispered along the sidewalks of Montreat or shared in
the candlelight around Lake Susan:

I love hearing all these different perspectives. Mahala

Can we have another theological discussion tomorrow night? Josephine

I took a picture of flowers with the mountain in the background. Eric

I keep singing because Im so happy. Josephine

Here Mom, you and Mahala walk under the umbrella---Ill walk
in the rain. Eric

What a joy to watch over these three in their friendship-charged, open-

minded, open-hearted plunge into the waters of this blessed adventure!
Thank you, Central, for all of your support.