top ten list, spiritual
by Diane Winston
1. New York City, New York, 1956
huddling in a corner when my infant brother comes home, I experience alone-ness
2. Central Park West, New York City, 1963
skipping through mounds of crisp autumn leaves, I experience mortality
3. Brandeis University, Waltham, 1970
rolling down a summer green hill, I experience wonder
4. Jutland, Denmark, 1971
psychedelically altered on Easter morning, I experience at-one-ness
5. Jerusalem, Israel, 1971
watching “The Fixer,” Joel explains the history of blood libel and European anti-Semitism to me, I experience belonging
6. Museum of Modern Art, New York City, 1980
sitting in front of “Guernica,” I experience transcendence
7. Greensboro, North Carolina, 1987
attending back-to-back Springsteen concerts, I experience full-ness
8. Princeton, New Jersey, 1992
facing the impossibility of biological parenthood, I experience desolation
9. Princeton, New Jersey, 1995
praying, I hear a soft voice telling me to take care of others. I experience immanence, then rebellion
10a. Guatemala City, Guatemala, 1999
holding my infant daughter, I experience a leap of faith
10b. Ramallah, West Bank, 2010
traveling with students, I hear them intelligently discuss politics and religion, I experience gratitude
