May 14th, 2018

April 23, 2018
              This past Saturday I did readings and a book signing at Rosebud County Library.  It was wonderful to have more than 40 people come and to have such support from the library, with the Director serving wonderful breakfast croissants and fruit.
              My event schedule continues this week as I do readings and signing at Bicentennial Library in Colstrip at the southern end of our county on Thursday evening, April 26.  I expect to see more friends and supporters there.
              The subject of today’s blog is the purpose of writing a book like mine – or Christmas poems or whatever writings come along. The publishing industry undoubtedly sees many authors who write for money, but I sincerely doubt that a Christian publication could be meaningful if its purpose was mercenary.
              Instead, I realize that my book began to truly come together after I clearly understood my purpose, based on a comment by a dear friend who devoted much of his life after achieving sobriety to helping others through AA. He commented that if we use what we learn from our own life’s journey to help others, then God’s grace will flow not only into their lives but back into ours as well.
              By the grace of God, I have emerged from the hardest time of my life with faith, well-being, and joy, and I know above all that I could not get to this point alone. If traveling that road with me through my writing helps someone else with comfort and healing, then the book will be justified.
              I have to share a little chuckle: At no time in this process do I want to be viewed as an “expert.” My father, who was consulted often on university-level chemistry and botany, said that he avoided being labeled as an expert – because “ex” is a has-been, and “spurt” is a drip under pressure!