Photo courtesy of Jon Magnuson Diana Magnuson looks out onto Lake Superior from the shoreline. The public is invited to attend the “The Gift of Water” release gala at Peter White Public Library on Tuesday. The anthology of 45 essays on the majesty of the Great Lakes was published by the Cedar Tree Institute.

By ALEXANDRIA

BOURNONVILLE

Mining Journal

Staff Writer

MARQUETTE — Residents are invited to celebrate the Great Lakes at the Peter White Public Library during “The Gift of Water” release gala Tuesday.

Recently published by the Cedar Tree Institute, “The Gift of Water: Reflections on Ecology, Art, and the Spiritual Life” is a book featuring 45 essays about the majesty of the Great Lakes. The writings are diverse and come from a variety of authors, with each piece written by a different author.

Some of the authors will be in attendance to read their essays from 6 to 8 p.m. Eastern time. Admission is free and musical interludes will be provided by the local band Streaking in Tongues.

All essays were originally published in editions of the Marquette Monthly magazine from 2016 to 2022. “The Gift of Water” editor and co-author, Paul Lahmberg, said the event will celebrate the “superb” writing and the author’s dedication to raising public awareness of climate change and pollution.

“The hour is late,” Lehmberg said. “Humanity is imperiled. We want to raise consciousness and heighten awareness regarding that peril … the book is a mosaic of love and concern for our planet.”

Most authors featured in the book are also members of the Interfaith Northern Great Lakes Water Stewards Initiative. They have collected and recycled more than 320 tons of electronic waste, planted 20,000 trees, had 12 public educational forums and established 15 community gardens across the Upper Peninsula.

“All of our contributing writers … certainly subscribe to the beliefs embedded in our name … that water is precious and life-giving, and that it … must be cared for, even loved,” Lehmberg said. “The essays, singly and together, underscore the fact that water IS life. We ignore this truth at our great peril.”

During an interview, Lehmberg read a portion of the book’s preface, which was written by Magnuson.

“The future holds formitible challenges. The bulk of evidence suggests that technology alone cannot save us. Our conviction is that a vibrant spirituality and a deepening consciousness along with the best of science, will.”

Copies of the book will be available to purchase at the venue for $20.50.

Alexandria Bournonville can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 506, or abournonville@miningjournal.net.