As 2010 came to a close, the floodgate of memories opened and I reminisced with friends about times gone by. Here’s one of those sweet memories.

For a couple of years I was on faculty at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in  western Indiana. It was a dream job. In fact the campus is so beautiful, that when a friend drove me there for the first time, I was enthralled. It was magical. There were beautiful rolling hills, manicured lawns and century old university buildings harmoniously dotting the idyllic landscape. Wow. I thought, I would happily, cheerfully work here.

So I compiled my resume and submitted it to Sister Susanne, the dean of faculty—yes, I said Sister. SMWC is the oldest Catholic women’s college in the country,  founded by The Sisters of Providence. I felt like that was a good omen. The Dean’s single question to me as I handed her my application was, “How did you know that we have an opening?” I had to admit that I didn’t, but secretly took that as another good sign. She promised to read my file and get back to me. We had vacation plans, so the next day, we were off to Disney World in Florida.

It was the typical family vacation: we rode all the rides, explored Epcot and exhausted ourselves, as most people do on a such excursions. On the second day, the cell phone rang. Human resources had reviewed my file and they invited me 2 days later for an interview with the department chair, Sister Laurette. Wow. Not only was my head spinning from the excitement of Disney World, now it was spinning with the possibility of becoming a faculty member at SMWC. I was absolutely giddy.

Following our family vacation, we returned to western Indiana and I drove the 30 minutes south to campus for my scheduled interview. As I approached the gates, I was again overwhelmed by the picturesque setting. I really wanted the job, even though I knew almost nothing about the position.

Now I must admit that my prior experience with nuns was through movies. They were always bedecked in full habits, with their faces framed within starched wimples. The sisters at SMWC could dress in the traditional habits, if they so chose or in “business clothes” if they selected that option. They were “women of the cloth” either way. Many adorned their white blouse collar with a simple gold cross. Sister Laurette chose that option. My first impression of her was that she was beautiful. A stately woman, around 20 my senior, she was completely open and warm. She was very direct and deliberate. After our interview, in which I fell more deeply in love with SMWC, Sister Laurette told me that the next step was to meet the head of the visual arts department.

I got the job. I taught art history and was the gallery director. When I arrived on campus in the spring and fall, it looked like a Currier and Ives print. In the middle of winter, it was transformed into a beautiful snow globe, with flurries dancing and swirling before landing—oh, so perfectly on the ridges of the buildings.

I had taught at another college before our relocation, but SMWC was completely different. My previous experience was in a co-educational setting. The “Woods” was a women’s college. Class sizes were small. “If the women need a particular course, we offered it,” I was told. No classes were canceled due to insufficient enrollment. The Sisters of Providence were there to “provide” to the students what was needed, when it was needed. There was a simplicity and a peacefulness in their offer and there was a grace in accepting what was provided. Nothing was taken for granted. The women were supported and encouraged. They were respected and loved. And so was I.

From the outside, looking in, you might say that I’m lucky. You could point to any number of events in my life that have been just what I needed at the precise moment to be most effective. You’d be right. But thanks to those 2 years that I was on faculty at the Woods, I learned some important lessons—about trust and providence. That experience gave me the language to appreciate the things that come my way or just simple work out—as well as those that seem like a challenge at the time. Providence. May the new year bring us the courage to accept it graciously. Happy New Year!

Posted on January 2, 2011

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