It had to happen sooner or later. I received the first ten copies of my book The Gate of Beautiful: Stories, Songs, And Reflections On Christian Life. Most of us compartmentalize ourselves to fit into a particular group of people with specific interests in common. I do that as much as anyone else. In here, I'm primarily a folk musician who tells an occasional tale or two. In other groups, I am a gospel singer with a strong Christian faith. My songwriting is more folk than gospel, although in recent years gospel has gained some ground. My correspondence over the years has been as much with friends who were atheists as those who were Christians. This book removes the boundaries, which are artificial to me.

The book has several chapters that are expansions on old letters I wrote to Art Thieme, and others I wrote to a Lutheran minister. Art, my Lutheran minister friend and I all enjoyed each other and shared conversations through the mail. That's the way it should be. We all loved and supported each other. Several chapters of the book grew out of posts here on Mudcat. Two: A Bus Story and A Train Story were on a thread for writers that's disappeared now. Three or four chapters started out as stories on the kitchen table thread. Most have been expanded with reflections on how my faith colors my view of the world and touches my friendships with people of all (or no) faiths.

And then there are the songs. Song lyrics are interwoven from ones I've written to things as varied as You Can't Rollerskate In A Buffalo Heard to jazz songs, with a lot of old gospel thrown in. At the back of the book there are complete lyrics and commentary on 11 gospel songs I've written, only three of which I've recorded. My next step is to do a CD of the songs.

The books is what it is. It is me. I've shared chapters with friends of mine who are Atheists, or Agnostics at their request, but I never try to push my own faith on anyone else. I have enough trouble living my own life without trying to live someone else's.

You can read more about the book at www.outskirtspress.com/gateofbeautiful

(no matter how many times I follow the blue clicky directions, it never works. The webpage is www.outskirtspress.com/gateofbeautiful.

I mailed the first copies off to friends and family today. It was a particularly joyful, quiet experience.

Jerry

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