Riley B. King, the great B. B. King, King of the Blues, was born on this day in 1925. Read more

This past Monday the pope met officially with the archbishop of the Evangelical Church of Sweden. Catholics and Lutherans meeting isn’t so much news. However, the archbishop, Ante Jackelen, is the first woman to head the Swedish church. A pretty cool photo op, but also opens the heart in all sorts of directions. Fondest wishes for my Christian friends as they seek to heal the wounds of gender discrimination at some its most basic levels, even if with baby steps… Read more

Confucius Visits a Waterfall James Ishmael Ford rewrites one of Zhuangzi’s Stories for the Children’s Moment at the Pacific Unitarian Church, in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Told with Kim Gosney & Vicki Gavel. 13 September 2015 Vicki: Zhuangzi, Master Zhuang lived in China somewhere in the general neighborhood of the fourth century before the birth of Jesus. He wrote short stories. His most famous story is a really, really short one. Perhaps you’ve heard it before. One day a man... Read more

HELLO, I MUST BE GOING A Homily James Ishmael Ford 13 September 2015 Pacific Unitarian Church Rancho Palos Verdes, California I’ve been told of the interim minister who always began his first sermon at a new congregation by singing that little song from the 1930 Marx Brothers farce, Animal Crackers. Hello, I must be going. I cannot stay, I came to say I must be going. I’m glad I came But just the same I must be going. I will... Read more

It’s hard for me to believe its been fourteen years. Over the years I’ve written on that day and those that have followed. I find I return to certain themes. And today I find those themes, those images returning… I had just been with a family visited by serious illness. I was in the car and turned on my radio. That’s when I heard the news. A plane had flown into one of the World Trade Center towers, there were... Read more

The wonderful Mary Oliver was born on this day in 1935. Read more

As it happens the great Otis Redding was born on this day in 1941. Read more

Chiam Topol was born on this day in 1935. Read more

If you’re in the Los Angeles area and thinking about a church, here’s an idea. Come and check out the Pacific Unitarian Church in Rancho Palos Verdes. We are a member congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association. I will be serving as the interim minister for the next two years. I work with an amazing team of professionals and volunteers. Our community offers something for individuals and families who are seeking a spirituality that is equally committed to the mind... Read more

Ronald Charles McKernan was born on this day in 1945. Better known as Pigpen, he was one of the original members of the Grateful Dead and their first frontman and leader. Unlike most of his bandmates, his taste was for whiskey over psychedelics. He died shockingly young. Of course, now Jerry is gone, too. And, the Dead have disbanded… Time passes. All things made of parts will inevitably come apart. Although memories can linger a bit longer than flesh. And... Read more