Hills

Bethlehem

Chestnut Hill College

Hills. They nestle us in their valleys and offer expansive views from their heights. Getting to the summit is empowering and beckons us on to a more challenging climb. It dawns on me that hills have been the backdrop for most of my ministry. There are the Ramapo Mountains of Bergen County, New Jersey, the Poconos in the Pennsylvania Slate Belt, the hills surrounding Bethlehem in the Lehigh Valley, and now, Chestnut Hill, the highest point in Philadelphia. Not only that, I live in Manayunk, a city neighborhood famous for steep hills that tumble down to the Schuylkill River and for cobblestone streets that challenge bikers from around the world. 

Manayunk

The ups and downs of hilly paths are reflective of my years. New ministries and neighborhoods have held their challenges, making progress slow, even difficult, at times. Yet the Spirit has offered consistent hints of the view ahead to tease me to the top. Once there, the sight has been amazing! The energy of students discovering themselves and the dedicated competence of colleagues in ministry never fail to offer a panoramic view of the overall graciousness of God's sustaining presence. The wonder of all of this propels the downhill trip and glides past cherished memories, with the delight of animated conversations and spontaneous laughter in the breeze. At the bottom, the expanse of a backward glance can be breathtaking. The view of what's been offers me just enough momentum to set out again and stretch up to the challenge of another new day, another new relationship, another new ministry. 

Ramapo, New Jersey

How blessed I've been to enjoy the hills and valleys. More than monotonous turnpikes, they've drawn me on an awesome journey that climbs up to rewarding views from the high places, on down again to an exhilarating return to the starting place where the opportunity to do it all again awaits. T. S. Eliot's "In the end is my beginning" may be the poetic expression of a life, but the surprises, sights and sounds of the hillsides I’ve journeyed over and over offer the third dimension. A blessing indeed!

Sister Mary Jo Larkin

Mary Jo Larkin SSJ has enjoyed a range of involvement in the field of education, from teaching at primary, middle and high school levels, to administrative roles at both Mount Saint Joseph Academy and Chestnut Hill College.  She is currently Dean for Library and Information Resources at Chestnut Hill College.