By Sister Marise May OSF

For those familiar with Franciscan Villa in Syracuse, our rooms each have a “box window”— two windows in the middle and one on each side. My chair is turned toward the window where I have a view of a beautiful grove of trees. The window sill is my “prayer table,” and the view of creation outside my windows easily brings to mind and heart the beauty of the Creator. I awaken early, and because the room is dark, I have the shades up. God and I have coffee together as we watch the growing glow of red rise from the horizon bringing the dawn of a new day. It always brings to mind Lam. 3:21-23: “…this I hold as my reason to have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning, so great is His faithfulness.” At night my window brings the stars and planets, and the beautiful phases of the moon. These days, Venus is the only visible bright point in the pre-dawn darkness at 5:00 a.m., so my day begins with the symbol of Love. I am so grateful for my east-facing window and what’s outside my window!