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Continued: Getting to know you: Susan Huxford-Westall by Fran Darlington

Susan grins, adding "These are the things I want to write about. I've already referred to it in my article about Stephen Hawking (the brilliant British physicist). I've started a book called 'God's Great Adventure.' It's a scientific fact that nature abhors a vacuum. (Perhaps) God said, 'Let's put part of my Spirit into something that's alive, and it will find its way back to me!

Never one to conceal her reactions to the unfolding Anglican history, Susan says, "I have seen a wake-up call--God is at work! The enthronement of Bishop Michael is an indication of that!" In her column in this paper, Susan has revealed much of her sense of God's participation in this life, but there is more: "If I was to write about my faith, the old-timers would call me heretical." Susan explains "my own thoughts about what happens when we die: your spirit passes into another dimension, 'surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses' (Hebrews 12:1)." Susan interrupts herself to ask a rhetorical question: "Where is heaven? We can put out our hands to touch it, but we cannot feel it!" She continues, "We move through into this other dimension. When I die, I will face God, but Jesus will be standing beside me, and God will say, "There's your model. Judge yourself! You've had the example; how did you measure up?"

Past President of the St. George's Society, and a founding member of the board and recording secretary for the Friendship Centres for the Psychiatrically Impaired (formed to support people trying to reintegrate into the community but sadly closed three years ago), Susan remains an active participant in the life of the Church, intrigued with Anglican events far beyond this Diocese of Niagara. Signed on to the website for the Anglican Church of Canada, she gets "news up to four times a day! It's very useful."

Life!

At 87, Susan Westall's enthusiasm for life remains undiminished: "There is so much in life! I've been told I should write my story, but I get distracted. I have started, got through my teen years, up to the War. Now I want to write about my faith, my life, what life's all about! I could say so much; I've had time to think about it!

"I've kept going, and now I've taken up writing for the Niagara Anglican, encouraged by Chris Grabiec (Editor) and my friend for years, (the Reverend Canon Charles Stirling, member of the Publisher's Advisory Board). My prayer is 'Lord, it's in your hands; I'll go on working as long as you want me to.' I can say I love life, but I can also say I'm not afraid to die."

Rose gardens have thorns. Some people complain because God put thorns among the roses, but others praise God because he put roses among the thorns. Susan Huxford-Westall has dealt with thorns most people never imagine, but remains an example of faithfulness, courage and compassion. Standing before God, with Jesus beside her, she'll probably measure up very well indeed!

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