 We have been created with a primal impulse for connection and meaning, which can only be found when we discover the stories of our past, when we discover that we are connected to an endless line of individuals who have, like us, sought after God in hope of finding redemption and purpose. May we know that in this journey we are never alone on the deserts of life, that we tread on well-worn paths of fellow saints and seekers. May we find in their stories and practices wisdom and encouragement for our own journey. And when everything in life seems to be blown by the rushing wind, may we be held firmly in place by our roots, the never-ending thread that connects us to all of our fellow sojourners on this journey called life.