Two authors, two visions: authenticity and hopeCOFFEE WITH WARREN, with Warren Harbeck |
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Two local authors celebrate achievements: Linda Anne Smith, her first novel; and Judge John Reilly, his 70th birthday. Photo lower right by Warren Harbeck, others supplied Cochrane author Linda Anne Smith addresses a problem many face when personal authenticity is compromised by group membership. Terrifying Freedom, her first novel, is the story of a former nun’s struggle to re-embrace her true self. Religious studies scholar Prof. Michael Duggan finds in this book a magnificent description of “how religious perfection is the enemy of spiritual authenticity. Linda Anne Smith deftly unfolds the drama of a person who enters religious life in search of God and gradually realizes she is becoming estranged not only from society but also from herself.” Such estrangement, of course, is not limited to the religious life. Consider, for example, how folks sacrifice authenticity for political and professional reasons! Linda will be reading and signing copies of Terrifying Freedom at the Cochrane Public Library June 23 from 7:00 to 8:00 PM. Meanwhile, a familiar face here in the Bow Valley is celebrating his 70th birthday next week with a hope-affirming event to support First Nations youth in their desire to reconnect with their authentic selves for a brighter future. Judge John Reilly (ret.) is teaming up with Canmore Rotary to raise funds for their First Nations Youth Projects. John’s commitment to First Nations issues is rooted in his years as a provincial court judge, especially in Cochrane. In his books Bad Medicine and Bad Judgment, he has documented his struggles to get the Canadian judicial system to incorporate a more community-building restorative model of sentencing in place of the punishment-based retributive model. John extends an invitation to all of us to join him for his fund-raising birthday gathering June 26 from 1:00 till 4:00 PM at the Georgetown Inn, Canmore. To authenticity and hope!
© 2016 Warren Harbeck |