Successful Earth Day at Solomon Center

As I was getting a sponge from under the kitchen sink to clean my painting pallet, the wheelchair actuator stopped working. That meant that my chair would no longer rise up or down. I was stuck. Mom was out, and I was home alone. There was nothing to do but....(View...

A friend told me about a recent conversation with her son: “Mom, how come Carrie doesn’t have to do the dishes, and I do?” My friend answered, “Because Carrie is five, and you are eight. She’s beginning to have her household tasks. When she sees you doing your chores,...

When my sister Becca was thirteen, she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, which can cause chronic gastrointestinal issues. Despite her limitations and chronic physical pain, she graduated from college and majored in music. Becca went on to adopt six very active and...

From the Archives: May 2, 1956I was in New York City for a Lenten writing assignment. One day, after lunch, I went for a long walk in Central Park. At length, I rested on a bench and shared my lunch with some pigeons. All aroun....(View this reading and more resources...

The psalmist is helpless, weak, possessed of a soul that “is weary with sorrow.” Nonetheless, the psalmist wants to remain focused on God’s decrees. Succumbing to fear or insecurity or hostility or meanness is as dangerous as it ever was—more dangerous even than...

Once, I was eating quietly at a favorite café in town, enjoying some alone time. As I prepared to leave, I asked a waitress to assist me. Despite her best efforts and my repeated attempts to explain how to help me, we did not have a good interaction. Flustered, I...

For the last three years, I have had the privilege of speaking at career day at my nephews’ school. I talk to fourth graders about being an artist—it’s one of the highlights of my year. I love children’s genuine curiosity and teachable attitudes. La....(View this...

Late one afternoon, a dear friend I hadn’t seen in years came to see me at the art gallery. We laughed and shared stories with my gallery friends and co-creators. We made plans to enjoy a quiet dinner later that evening. Just as we were closing the galler....(View...