Daily Meditation for September 10, 2026

Carol visited The National Gallery in London and felt overwhelmed. In just one room, so many art pieces, so much to know about them, too many to allow a sense of being fully present to any of them. Carol slipped into a group of fourth graders as they listened to an instructor engage them in a study of a painting—the colors, the lights and shadows, the tilt of the woman’s head, the positioning of the bowl of fruit on the table. The details contributed to the effects of the whole. After twenty minutes, Carol left the class feeling she had encountered the painting and the artist. The design of each of our days gives us a painting. Attending to a few of its colors, words, feelings evoked and feelings smothered, ideas hatched and nurtured can be a visit to a showcase of our life. We can also meet the designers—ourselves and God.

By Mary Reuter, OSB