My friends and I really liked to spend time in the field and woods that were only about three blocks away from my childhood neighborhood. We were outside no matter the weather. There was an old oak tree that made it through every season, windblown and gnarled.

This reflection started when I was much younger during a spiritual retreat. Randomly, I opened the Bible to a Gospel passage that would have me learning about Jesus and his teaching for the rest of my life. One retreat can do that you know. The parable was of the rich man and poor Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31).