FROM THE PRIORESS

Growing up in an old farmhouse, I remember very distinctly a drawer in the corner of our kitchen that Mom, Dad, and all my siblings called the “catch-all drawer.” At the time, I thought it was unique to our family, but later I discovered that nearly every home has one — the drawer that holds all the miscellaneous things we don’t know what to do with: birthday candles, Band-Aids, hairpins, buttons, knives, corks, safety pins, broken crayons — and the list goes on and on. 

When we did our spring cleaning, my mom often asked me to clean out this drawer. I would begin by placing a newspaper on the kitchen table and dumping the contents of the drawer onto it. Then I would go through each item. Some things I cleaned, some I threw away, and others I returned to their proper places. The remaining items I organized and put back into the drawer so they would be handy and available for my brothers and sisters. I was always proud of how it looked when I finished. However, it didn’t stay that way for long. 

I believe that each of us has a “catch-all drawer” in our heart. In this drawer, we collect hopes, memories, and joys. We also tuck away doubts about our abilities, apologies we never made, broken promises, unresolved conflicts, pains and misunderstandings with family and friends, and age-old grievances that we feel compelled to hold onto. 

Our “heart drawer” requires occasional cleaning and reflection. There is quiet courage in opening it intentionally — in sitting with what we have stored away, letting it breathe, allowing memories to surface, and even permitting tears to fall. Sometimes we discover that fears we once thought overwhelming have softened over time. At other times, we are surprised to find that misunderstandings we believed we had forgotten still linger and fester. Resentments we never addressed stir strong emotions. The anger we felt when we were treated unfairly may still burn within us. These feelings take up space and call for our attention. To have a healthy heart, we are challenged to face and work through them. 

As we explore our “heart drawer,” we also rediscover forgotten joys and delightful memories. We recall the pride we felt in achieving an award. We relive the fun we had on vacations. We notice how the look of approval from a teacher still brings us joy. We rediscover the deep love and acceptance we experienced when we had the courage to walk with a loved one through cancer. We even laugh again at the memory of showing up a day early for a friend’s birthday party. 

The most remarkable thing about the “catch-all drawer” of the heart is that it continues to expand — it grows and becomes ever larger. It fills us with energy, gives us a zest for life, and strengthens our ability to love as Jesus loved. 

My most treasured “heart drawer” is where I find gratitude and blessings. This is where I “catch all” the wonderful things people have done for me and the powerful experiences on my journey as a Benedictine. Here, my heart often sheds a tear as I reflect on the deep love that has been given to me. It is also where I hold my profound affection for all our donors and friends who are so generous to our community. 

May you take time to reflect on — and reverence — the many gifts you find in your own “heart drawer.”