Tribute to a Friend

Walter Wangerin, Jr. is one of the best storytellers I have ever heard in my life. I knew that again when I heard him recently at a ministers' conference. The stories he tells, whether they be tales of an inner-city church in Evansville, Indiana, children's fantasy tales replete with fascinating characters, or Biblical stories told in his own special way, make me cry, make me laugh, strengthen my faith, give me hope, teach me to love simple things, make me want to honor my parents and teach me gratitude every time I hear them.

If you happen to come across one of his books as you are perusing the bookstore shelves, pick it up. I promise you, you will not be disappointed. Walter is my mentor, my friend, my word crafting taskmaster and my model for what can happen when the great God-story becomes the obsession of an imagination as fertile as a rainforest.

KPM/February, 2001