The Blessing of Friendship
by William Bertrand

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Oh, I woke up early, before sunrise And prepared a simple meal. I hear the Book of Life speak, And this is what it said. In our present digital world of social media, building and maintain strong friendships can be a challenge. We return to friendship when we return to the basics of prayer and meet together face-to-face and place-to-place, caring, sharing and helping each other. The Blessing of Friendship encourages readers to take part in that system; to become fully engaged, fully alive, and woven into the fabric of life in the banquet of love. Through inspirational, religious poetry and songs, it celebrates the dynamics of friendship and the ways our lives are transformed when we let love into our hearts. With simple lyrics and powerful rhythm, the poems and songs collected here inspire the reader with friendship and love. Our lives are compared to a pendulum that goes back and forth from giving to receiving, not moving too fast or too slow, so that we do not get stuck in isolation and apathy. By listening to the quiet whispers within, we can all make the transition from student, to servant, to friendship, embraced by God’s love.

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William Bertrand is a poet and author of Love Snacks: Let's have a poetry party!! (2020) and Wild Flowers: Longing for Belonging (2021), co-written with Cynthia Stork. He made the long journey from student, to servant, to friendship, while surviving life's difficulties and overcoming serious mental health challenges. William is fascinated by theology, philosophy, and literature, and spends a lot of time volunteering in care facilities and with social service agencies. He’s a member of the Secular Franciscan Order and lives in Victoria, B.C.

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Contributors

Author

William Bertrand

Cover Design by

D. Thomas