Last week I had the honor of attending the end-of-year musical conceived and performed by students at P.S. 169 in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Parishioner Zach Pearson was one of the teaching artists who facilitated the production, helping the students take their ideas and turn them into a live action story. Because Zach knows I am all about performance of any kind (and also because I am his mom!), I got the invite—and accepted with enthusiasm….

This past week, New Yorkers had an opportunity to be amazed. As you may have seen or heard in the news, it was the yearly arrival of “Manhattanhenge”—that time in the early summer when the setting of the sun lines up perfectly with the street grid in Manhattan. Since moving back to the city in 2018 I have experienced this phenomenon only once. Quite by accident, at the end of a day I stumbled upon a large-ish group of people staring west, phones lifted to record the event….

Have you ever experienced a surprise that completely changed your perspective or direction in life? The Lord has a way of surprising us in unexpected and powerful ways.

He often leads us on paths that we never would have chosen for ourselves. Just as the disciples were surprised when Jesus called them to leave everything and follow Him, we too may be surprised by the directions in which the Lord leads us. His ways are always higher than ours, and His plans are always for our ultimate good….