My inspiration for The Patterns of Place: Seeking Shelter; Finding Home came from the refugee crisis in the Middle East and across the Mediterranean Sea, specifically, the image of Alan Kurdi, a three-year-old boy who drowned and whose body washed ashore. The image is heartbreaking. The crisis continues and the world seems to have turned its shoulder against people in need.
The following pieces touch on the notions of home and place. They strive to answer questions like: what is home? What does it mean to belong? Where is my place in the world?
While I’ve been wanting to publish this issue for a few years, my work and personal life led to delays. My mom’s health declined. She died in June of 2017. I knew she would appreciate this themed issue of Scintilla. She often enjoyed reading the issues. In a moment when joy in life seemed possible again, I decided it was time to move forward with this issue. I hadn’t realized how grief and depression would come sliding over me again. The process became an immense weight for me. However, as time passed, the sadness faded, or perhaps, I learned how to incorporate those notes into the joy I experience in life. Finally, The Patterns of Place is here and I’d like to dedicate it to my mom, Marianne Lepczyk.
Thank you for reading it. Thank you for your understanding and grace.