These days I've been catching up on my reading for the spiritual guidance program I'm in, with the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation. Today I escaped from the house, spending a few hours doing the reading in Swem Library on the College campus. Afterwards, walking from the library to my car, twice I encountered members of our Lutheran Student Association. (Today's the first day of classes for the spring semester.) How wonderful it was to hear from Ashley that she's been accepted at two law schools, and to hear from Leslie that she's been accepted into a PhD program in physical therapy! But, more importantly, how good it was to see the joy in their faces, when they saw how well I'm doing! How good it was to be hugged by them! How glad I am to again be out (literally) among the living!