Drupal7: Make node fields variables for global access

d7-node-fields-variables.php

<?php
//this goes into template.php function
function theme_preprocess_page(&$variables, $hook) {
  if(isset($variables['node'])) {
    $node = node_load($variables['node']->nid);
    if($node->type == 'homepage') {
      $field_name1 = 'field_left';
      $field_name2 = 'field_middle';
      $field_name3 = 'field_right';

      $variables[$field_name1] = field_view_field('node', $node, $field_name1, 'default');
      $variables[$field_name2] = field_view_field('node', $node, $field_name2, 'default');
      $variables[$field_name3] = field_view_field('node', $node, $field_name3, 'default');
    }

  }

}
?>
// this goes into page.tpl.php
          <?php print render($field_left); ?>
          <?php print render($field_middle); ?>
          <?php print render($field_right); ?>