Back-to-School,Tears and Finding Light in the Space Between Back-to-school season always puts owls in my mind. Maybe it’s the wisdom they symbolize—or maybe it’s just the old classroom decorations, with wide-eyed owls perched on colorful letters. As I thought of owls, I remembered a special book from my days as a kindergarten teacher: Owl at Home by Arnold Lobel. In one story, Owl pours out a cup of his own tears and bravely drinks them, learning to sit with his feelings, even when they are lonely or sad. Lately, that image feels far too real; I think I could fill a whole cup myself some days. Reading to my Granddaughter This time of year is especially hard because I wasn’t able to see my granddaughter off on her first day of school. Divorce has a way of carving spaces between people, and I fear sometimes those spaces are too wide for words to cross. I pray for her every day. Some days, I’m afraid I’ll leave this world without telling her, again and again, how much I love her...