Biggest Fan

She intimidated me. Here was this smart, well-read, outspoken woman who’d been an Episcopalian longer than I’d been alive, and we had signed up for the same EFM (Education for Ministry) group. I was in way over my head. 

But that was just me being cowhearted. Because Sue—that’s her name—has this wonderfully dry sense of humor, insatiable curiosity, and wide open mind regarding who God loves (everyone) and what God thinks (we Christians don’t have all the answers). And going through four years of EFM with her was both delightful and life-changing.

In the almost thirty years since then, we’ve continued to be part of each other’s lives. So when I began writing my YA series about a teen named Claire and her adventures in Saudi Arabia and Switzerland, Sue not only supported my efforts but became a Claire evangelist, writing online reviews and spreading the word (and paperback copies!) at her church. She’s one of Claire’s biggest fans.

Then two nights ago, I received this email message from Sue:

I hope all is going well with Claire in Switzerland & her new book. I need to let you know that I am unexpectedly on Hospice care due to a lung tumor.  'One Day at a Time' & give thanks for each one. This is a time of happy memories and I have many. Cheers!  -- Sue

That’s Sue. I’m still editing the ‘Claire in Switzerland’ book (Lord of All Hopefulness: Waking), with publication a few months away. I’ll print it out as-is and bring it to her, if she’s still with us. And sit with her, because I’m one of her biggest fans.