The boy smushed, pulled and tugged at Robin Williams’ face, searching with great earnest. Shoving folds of middle-aged flesh back at the man’s temples, the boy caught a glimpse of what he was looking for in the unrecognizable visage. “Oh, there you are, Peter!” Watching Steven Spielberg’s surprisingly enduring 1991 film “Hook” (with Williams as Peter Pan) the other night, the words of that little Lost Boy put a lump in my throat. Surely we are to put away certain... Read more
For Shan-ye. [wpvideo b3WJ30jO] The Abbot Kinney Lighthouse Choir from The Coen Bros’ Ladykillers Read more
This is Jen and Mimi (given name Mia Claire) her youngest daughter. They are two of my favorite people on the planet. Jennafierce (as she is known in these parts) has her first book (WOOT!!) coming out after the first of the year. It’s called Love You More: The Divine Surprise of Adopting My Daughter (Thomas Nelson, 2011). It’s available for pre-order on Amazon right now. I wouldn’t steer you wrong, dear readers. This book and this story are treasures.... Read more
In June 2009, a few days before Vasco underwent marvelously successful open-heart surgery at Hope Children’s Hospital outside Chicago, Dick Gordon, host of NPR’s show “The Story” invited Cathleen on the program to share Vasco’s amazing journey of healing. You can listen to the original program by following the link below. the_story_794_Vascos_Heart Last week Dick invited Cathleen back on the show to give listeners an update on Vasco’s journey to becoming part of a forever family with Cathleen and her... Read more
As Cathy grapples for a rudder to steer the drifting ship of her soul, faith isn't her last resort. Instead, it's the answer she's been seeking, a light in the darkness of grief and despair. But it's not the easy answer. It requires action, not just beliefs. Cathy has to make amends to those she's injured and begin the process of mending broken relationships. On "The Big C," faith is as difficult, confounding and entirely necessary as it is for so many of us in "real" life. Read more
[wpvideo mgQ8Dky5] The stunningly beautiful images of Vasco’s baptism last Saturday in the Pacific at Brooks Street in Laguna Beach, CA, were taken by our wonderful friend, the artist and photographer Mary Hurlbut. If you’d like to see Mary’s original photographs – in much higher resolution – click HERE. On Mary’s site, you can even order prints! Celebrants at the baptism festivites were Jeff Tacklind and Clarke Brogger (the dunker) from Little Church by the Sea and Rebbitzin Ina Albert... Read more
Vasco was baptized in the same waters where the ashes of the uncle he never met, “Mr. Mark,” were spread. Mark’s parents, sister, wife and daughter witnessed Vasco’s baptism from the beach with us, while Mark watched from the other side. Read more
For more than 15 years, I didn’t go to church (except for lots of visits in my professional capacity). When I was in my early 20s, the Episcopal church I attended regularly split. Factions formed, sides were taken, harsh words were spoken. A spiritual tug of war ensued and left the community in tatters. It was awful, traumatic — the worst that church has to offer. I love Jesus and all that he told us to do and be while... Read more
The theater was empty but for two college-aged guys when I went to see a screening of “The Social Network” at the small cinema in the seaside village where I live. As the fictionalized account of the early days of Facebook.com and its founder, Mark Zuckerberg, unfolded on the big screen, I yearned to have a friend sitting next to me to with whom share my observations. Full disclosure before I continue with my impressions of this terribly compelling film:... Read more
Ay Catolica! “Few people know it,” an article in the official Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano proclaimed this week, “and he does everything he can to hide it…but it is true: Homer J. Simpson is a Catholic.” Hold on a tick there, padre. Not to cast aspersions on the theological sleuthing of the Rev. Francesco Occhetta, the Jesuit priest who came to that conclusion after analyzing a 2005 episode of the Simpsons called “The Father, the Son and the Holy Guest-Star,”... Read more
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