Naming A Love

I read this Journal against the background of a visit that I had with Ben just before his transfer to the church eternal. After some pleasant conversation we shuffled out of the house and climbed into a golf cart. As Ben shuttled us around his beloved farm he shared story after story about the land and the mortals who had populated the environs in and around Adams Tennessee. He was doing something that is not easy for many of us to do. He was verbally and visually taking me back to his roots. As we carted around the farm he was introducing me to a whole web of his roots: historical natural cultural spiritual land history nature family community and church. His relationship to his roots was dearer to him than I had imagined. This Journal takes the reader into the well lived life of a husband father grandfather pastor and friend. As you turn the pages you will get a glimpse into how the Reverend Dr. Ben Alford reflected on life from the vantage point of faith - roots and all. Bishop Joseph E. Pennel Jr. United Methodist Church Martin