The Notre Dame campus has an area which is called “The Grotto.” It’s deep in the heart of the campus. You walk down, towards the lake, descend to an overgrown landing we referred to as “The Grotto.”
It’s an area of serenity where you can reestablish your composure in life.
I remember that, from time to time, steeped in the college fracas, I felt that I needed to go down there. Even though it was immersed in the Roman Catholic experience, it was nonetheless a place where you could regain your sense of self and your relationship to the outside world. It was a place you could breathe again.
I wonder if it’s not appropriate for each of us to have our own special grotto where we can do the same thing today, when we need it so much more.
It would almost always be a night–and most of the time in the late stillness of the night–wherewith flickering stars above and chilled air around me, I did sit on the bench and feel myself again.