Post from first experience by Anthony Surpa

I've heard that there is an African Cathecism that says "God created us because he thought we would like it". I am inclined to agree. Reflecting on my first day in Sainte-Baume it occurred to me that my life has been a long strange ride. I've been all around the world, seen many marvelous things, endured many sufferings, received many blessings. Today was a wonderful blessing.

My trip to France seemed to be fraught with many hurdles. The night before we left my electrical panel caught fire and nearly burnt my home to the ground with my children in it, and every step of the way was a road block. As though something didn't want me to come here.

This morning was the last bit of it. But once we arrived, it has been only blessings. I met the group of artists who are touring with us, stumbled into a stunning town out of "Beauty and the Beast", placed my art in the sanctuary of a gorgeous church that houses the relics of Mary Magdalene in the town where her earthly life ended, and got to put my prints of my work in two local galleries.

It's been a bit of a whirlwind. This old church is heart crushingly beautiful. It's difficult not to weep when inside it, as its columns and arches raise you to heaven and its beautiful Baroque and Renaissance art make you gasp.

To stand in front of the skull of the woman who Christ cast 7 demons out of and went on to be the first person to learn first hand of Christ's bodily resurrection is profoundly moving. A real faith, real people, real places, an incarnate religion. One that can be touched, tasted, smelled, heard, seen. There is no once upon a time or in a galaxy far far away here. Just mysterious concrete reality. It has been a good day. One, frankly, that is undeserved. I am read for tomorrow.

God Bless

Tony Suppa