Touchstones

Nestled in the hills of Sewanee, Tennessee, sits St. Mary’s Convent. Those walls of stone have remained as steady and faithful as the prayers have inside. This space is home to a community of kindhearted women sharing their life together. And, lucky for us, we are welcomed with open arms into that space. 

The Sisters of St. Mary open their home to the world regularly, and I am so grateful that I was welcomed into their space with compassion and care. I have been able to visit through Interyear retreats and solo retreats, and each time I have left with a new sense of clarity, purpose, and direction. The escape to reality in the mountains of Sewanee is always the breath of air my lungs desperately need. My visits have shaped me and pushed me toward authentic faith and personhood, and I have learned so much about life and faith through spending time with the Sisters.

This is a place of peace - a place to go and rest and be refreshed. The Sisters are warm and welcoming, but also allow enough space for me to go through my own process in solitude. Throughout my visits, I have found the freedom to be myself and discovered convictions I never realized I had. Each time I return to this safe place, I am reminded of who God is and who I am – my hope and vision for the future is restored, and I am met once again by the everpresent love and grace of God. The faithfulness and steadfastness I see in the Sisters always leads me back to the steadiness of the Lord. The open and welcoming spirit shared with me through the Sisters pushes me to open my own home and provide a sense of hospitality for those in my life. 

In a deeper way, visiting St. Mary’s has consistently shaped who I am. The safety I feel at St. Mary’s provides a much needed comfort and invitation into rest and renewal. In that space I am able to live out my convictions and values. I finally feel the permission I need to be Myself. There are no outside expectations – only me and God – and I am somehow brought back to who I have always been. Spending time there authentically challenges me to be myself back in Johnson City. If I was allowed to be my whole self there, why wouldn’t I be allowed to be myself when I was at home? 

I know St. Mary’s has been a source of healing and grace that I’ve been searching for in the midst of my life. This is a place where I am invited in – I am welcomed in at the table exactly as I am. There’s no doubt in my mind that visiting St. Mary’s has been a true touchstone for my life - a place I can return to for grounding, hope, and purpose. I know that no matter where I am at or how I am feeling, I can return to St. Mary’s Convent and be honest and congruent. I know that my brokenness is welcomed there and my heart can find rest in the beautiful hills of Sewanee. 

What are the touchstones in your life? Where are the places and spaces or the people that keep you grounded? Who reminds you what is true, good, and beautiful in your life? I hope you recognize the touchstones in your life – the places where you can return to for rest and clarity.

If you’ve never visited the Sisters of St. Mary, it is definitely worth the trip!