Lot's wife

In the Book of Genesis Lot's wife is turned into a pillar of salt for looking back as she fled the imploding city of Sodom. I'm not quite sure why this particular punishment was inflicted, but it seems to be punishment for not wholeheartedly turning her back on the wicked city.

But Omaha is not Sodom, so I've spent some time these last couple of days looking back at the places which have been significant for me this summer, and indeed the last three times  I've studied at  Creighton.Somebody told me to do this when I was finishing high school, telling me to look back as I walked out for the last time after my last exam, because although I might go back to visit one day, it would never be the same. I've adopted this practice every time I've left somewhere significant (Cooma, Chicago, Kincumber), and now it's time to do it in Omaha.


So I spent time at the little chapel where I first began my practice sessions of spiritual direction last year. At St John's Church where I have been to wonderful Masses. At Creighton Hall, the building where our lectures have been. The rooftop of the carpark where I have done morning prayer and watched the sunrise. My favourite fountain. Kevin and I had a room-mates date-night to walk downtown to say goodbye the Old Market section of town, our favourite quirky coffee shop and the baseball stadium. I even paused as I walked out of the room for the last time to look at my chair and my desk where I have read, thought, prayed and written for hundreds of hours.

True, the people are more important than the places, and there's been plenty of farewells to to my classmates too, some with tears. But places are also symbolic, and this has been a great process of thanksgiving. I usually find that these intentional goodbyes give me closure, and ready for the next chapter of life.

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