10. ❝ Soul Shaping

One Christmas, Jim brought home a set of calligraphy pens, the least wanted item in his office holiday party swap gift exchange. A beheaded fountain pen and collection of odd-looking nibs, they were left behind by the disappointed recipient. I was delighted.Written by Anne Ayers Koch. Find more of Anne's writing on Substack.Edited and produced by Geoff Koch and Amanda BarrancoMOREI practiced in the pre-dawn morning hours before the children were awake. It became a time of focus and meditation as I twisted the broad-edged square-cut pen to decorate note cards with sayings I found or had written. In the quiet at dawn, I was not just lettering, but talking to myself. I sent collections on colored linen paper to my parents and in-laws. Most were questions. Among them: “What if the rain never stopped? The earth would turn into one big sponge for wiping the universe clean.” “Who are teachers? The world is full of teachers, each of us for others and ourselves.” “What is soul? Perhaps it is a longing for an Infinite that is elusive in a finite world.” The careful writing helped me think. My answers might be different now but the process still works. Get full access to River Journeys at anneayerskoch.substack.com/subscribe