Linda and Pat from Grand River Books

Great Support, and wonderful friends and fans

Festival of Faith, Sudbury, Ontario

This morning, I read this question in well-known writer, Richard Wagamese’s book, Embers. “What makes us aware of your presence, mysterious loving Creator?” Richard listed things of spectacular beauty and love that I can see, hear, feel, smell and think. Such gifts!

I’m home after a great weekend at the Festival of Faith in Sudbury. I sold boxes of my books, met old friends and new, heard John Bell, the great keynote speaker and had a wonderful visit with my sister. We flew on the Spirit with the choir of the Uganda Martyrs’ United Church, from Weston Road in Toronto, and many others. My soul has been fed to overflowing. I was certainly aware of God’s presence. Front and centre in my mind was God, the fuel of all loving acts. God is the source of all our creative efforts, mine, yours, everyone’s.

I believe that God nudged me, invited me to Sudbury for this Festival of Faith by Shining Waters and Canadian Shield Regions through my desire to sell my latest book, “Dipping Your Toes, Too. ” I could have ignored God’s invitation. It took research to find out the details, to write emails, to learn to fit in to the Festival planners’ rules. The weekend before, I’d been in Montreal selling books at a similar, smaller gathering. I was tired. Selling isn’t my game. I wanted to stay home. Yet, I still went, and our mysterious, loving God fed my soul. I am grateful.

This morning, I offer my thanks to all the people who planned and carried out what, for me, was a true Festival of Faith. Thank you to my loving sister for her hospitality, my wonderful Tom, my biggest fan, who supports me so totally in my writing ministry. Thank you to all those who bought my books and stopped to talk.  Pat and Linda from Grand River Books welcomed me to sell books beside them and with them. And thank you to God for safe journeys for all who came.

Now, I’m home, enjoying my flowers, the birds, the sunshine. GRATITUDE overflows in my heart. I have been fed, so I share my gratitude with you and offer this suggestion.

Today, stop for a few moments and list the good things around you, the people, nature, your home, your job. Open your eyes and your heart. Drink in the beauty, the love, the goodness that surrounds you. It’s there waiting for you to notice, to see, to feel. Give God thanks for your abundance.  #UnitedChurchofCanada #FestivalofFaithSudbury