Questions for us to ponder this day: How might Merton's life--his birth in France, travels to England and the monastery in KY--contribute to your own sense of home and belonging? How might Mertons significant moments in nature impact your own spiritual life map? And further--how might Mertons insights on our interconnectedness exemplify Pope Francis call for an integral ecology? This two-part presentation will examine Mertons biography through the lens of geography to discover how landscape transformed his longing into an awareness of belonging and how immersion in nature shaped his spirituality. Included in each session will be time for silent reflection and sharing. Dr. Monica Weis SSJ, a Sister of St. Joseph of Rochester and emerita professor of English at Nazareth College, a long-time member of the International Thomas Merton Society and former Vice President of ITMS. Dr. Weis is a frequent presenter at national and international conferences. Her recent books include Thomas Mertons Gethsemani: Landscapes of Paradise (UPK 2005), The Environmental Vision of Thomas Merton (UPK, 2011), and Thomas Merton and the Celts (Pickwick, 2016). [Books will be available for purchase at discount prices.]