*Hi, I’m Ruth, Clara’s mom...she’s my only connection to the U. of C. I was raised in an academic/agnostic home near Philadelphia and attended Indiana University for music ed. in the 70s...meaning not a strong literary background, the focus was on music courses. I have taught varieties of music and also helped Clara’s dad Mike start a bookstore and a mini-farm in our small college town of Shepherdstown, West Virginia. In regard to spiritual interests/experiences, I have moved through agnosticism, 70s hedonism, eastern philosophies, Quakerism (the non-Christian variety), Quakerism (the Christian variety), until experiencing a spiritual calling to Christianity (upon meeting a Chinese viola player on a train) in 1981. From thence to the Mennonite (Anabaptist) Church, back to the Quakers, and have also attended Brethren, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Baptist, Lutheran again, Mennonite again, and am now attending a vibrant, mostly African American Methodist church in our town. Along the way there have been opportunities to read lots of books and parse out differing theologies and philosophies, and though Christianity is not primarily an intellectual exercise, my brain is such that I am always excited at the prospect of an intellectual challenge in the contemplation of God, my favorite subject. Thank you for inviting me!!*