This book is a memoir that explores the journey of one family. It examines how personal experiences interact with institutional settings to shape both individuals and communities. While the focus of the narrative is on the life and work of George Rupp, the telling of that story is inextricably connected with family relationships and also with institutional developments--in particular at Harvard Divinity School, Rice and Columbia Universities, and the International Rescue Committee.

George Rupp has served as Dean of Harvard Divinity School, President of Rice and Columbia Universities, and President of the International Rescue Committee. He and his wife Nancy, who has worked as a teacher and librarian, have two adult daughters, both professional anthropologists, one with a specialization in Japan and the other with a focus on Africa. Each has three children, who give their parents and grandparents refreshing love along with intermittent challenges.