For Abigail and Naomi

I\'d like to express my deep appreciation to the pastors of Hunter Presbyterian Church for

years of wisdom on matters seen and unseen; thanks especially to Claire Vonk Brooks, who

carried the seed of this story and entrusted it to me.
Jean and Richard Covert generously shared their insights and also read an early draft of

this manuscript. I am grateful to them, as well as to Meg Steinman, Caroline Baesler,

Kallie Baesler, Nancy Covert, Becky Lesch, and Malkanthi McCormick, for their candor and

guidance. Bruce Burris invited me to teach a workshop at Minds Wide Open; my thanks to

him, and to the participants that day, who wrote straight from their hearts.
I am very grateful to the Mrs. Giles `````