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Jan Karon, author of the Father Tim books, writes with an easy flair, creating a fictional village of believable, “want-to-know-you” characters. Karon’s villagers are warm, friendly people. Interrupted occasionally by pain, trouble and trial, just like the folks we know so well. Long-suffering Father Tim guides and cares for his parish with great understanding and love. His own walk of faith brings him insight that spills from the pages and soaks into my own life.

I was introduced to the Mitford series by a loving British lady, who though well into her 90s, still enjoyed a good read with the enthusiasm and curiosity of a child. Perhaps what intrigues me the most with Karon’s tales is how she introduces the reader to real-to-life people, living ordinary lives but gaining wisdom from their dailyness.

In one instance a single mom loses her precious seven-year-old daughter to a ruptured appendix, despite the best of care. Father Tim sits with her on her worn sofa, praying all the while for words of comfort. Instead he finds himself crying with the family, being drawn into their grief. He later learned that sharing in their sorrow was a greater blessing to them than any words could have been.

Father Tim, a 61-year-old lifelong bachelor, was asked to care for a neglected, impoverished 11-year-old boy. Again the reader is enfolded in his prayer life. What did he know about parenting? How could be possibly do this insurmountable task? What if he failed? The journey of bonding between Father Tim and Dooley Barlow reawakened thoughts of the path I had taken parenting my own two children, who often seemed unknown, incomprehensible strangers.

Father Tim’s walk of faith offers me such encouragement. “He could feel himself becoming something more—doors had opened, shutters cranked back to let in the light” (from These High Green Hills).

Reading these thoughtful comments made me wonder about the author herself. She was born into a troubled home and by a young age, she and her sister went to live with their grandparents on a farm. She said there was a lot of brokenness in her life but the enforced rural quietness gave her opportunity to heal and muse. Her grandmother was a great storyteller and Karon always wanted to write. She actually completed a novel by age 10.

She married young and very quickly found herself alone with a young child. She took a job as receptionist at an ad agency and daily left her own work on her boss’s desk until he took notice. She was able to work her way up and eventually gained an executive position with a national ad agency.

Late in her career she left her position and moved to small-town North Carolina to write books. She said her imagination visualized someone walking the village streets. As she watched, she realized he was wearing a priest’s collar. She thought about the character for a while and suddenly he was bowled over by an enormous black dog, “the size of a Buick.” Father Tim had presented himself to her and the first story began to take shape. The dog was a stray which adopted the priest and stubbornly refused to leave. His exuberant cleaning of Father Tim’s ears and steaming up his glasses was controllable only by loud quotations of scripture, something discovered quite by accident.

I grew fond of the characters, even Barnabus the stray, so named after Apostle Paul’s faithful co-worker. I soon read and reread all available books. I have purchased them all, even Patches of God Light, which purports to be Father Tim’s notebook of favourite quotes. I enjoy quotes myself. They uplift me, like a heart-to-heart with an old friend.

“Cheerfulness and contentment are great beautifiers.” Dickens.

“Some people complain that God put thorns on roses; others praise Him for putting roses on thorns.” Anonymous

“Friendship doubles our joys and halves our grief.” Dolly Madison

I can’t think of another author who consistently appeals to me: my love of people, family and thought-provoking anecdotes. I can only hope that Jan Karon will feel inspired to write for years to come. I just read on her website, “as long as you have floor space, you have room for books!”

That’s my kind of person!