b'J ust a couple of rocks, Brother John Lemkerjokes, describing a photograph he took of rockssubmerged under sun-sparkled water. Theimage, Glacier N.P., captures the beauty at his feet.While standing in the midst of the Rocky Mountains,I looked down, and saw these rocks, he says, notingthat beauty is everywhere. For 70 years, Brother Johnhas helped others connect with God through teaching,sharing Scripture and by capturing the magnificenceof creation through his photography. A sign from heavenHis life was simple growing up in Northern Kentuckyin the 1930s with his parents and older brother. Mymom, brother and I usually walked to church eachSunday because my dad was a milkman and had towork seven days a week, says Brother John. Everysix weeks, he had the weekend off, and we drove to church.Marianist high school in Cleveland. He recalls trem- Above: Reeds and ReflectionsDrawn to religious life as early as the sixth grade, bling a little on my first day, so I set my paper on the by Brother John Lemker, SMit wasnt until he attended Covington Catholic High desk so students wouldnt see it shaking. Opposite page: MoraineLake, Banff, by Brother JohnSchool, then administered by the Marianists, that he After eight years at Cathedral Latin, Brother John Lemker, SMstarted thinking about it in earnest. I liked how the accepted assignments at Purcell High School inbrothers related to the students, he says. They made Cincinnati and then spent 27 years in Michigan. us feel at home.During the first 10 years, he taught at Hackett CatholicBrother John professed first vows in 1951 and began High School in Kalamazoo, followed by conductingteaching physics and math at Cathedral Latin, a former Scripture-study classes for adults. PHOTO: JULIE WALLING Brother John Lemker, SMmarianist.com/donate 9'