Mom watched me for a long time. Back and forth I went, pedaling with all my might, then stopping and waving toward the sky.
Finally, Mom called to me. "Mary Blye. What are you doing, honey?"
"Waving to God," I called back. This story symbolizes my spiritual and religious journey. For as long as I can remember, a deep awareness of and a longing for God has existed within my heart. The home in which I grew up, and the church of my childhood, emphasized the eternal, undying love of God, and so before I could even read or write, it felt natural for me to "wave" to God. My childhood mentors — my family and church — depicted God as my dearest Friend.
— Mary Blye Howe, Sitting with Sufis