Happy 50th Birthday, Mr. Bono On this day in 1960, a wee child with an enormous spirit was born in Dublin, Ireland. His parents named him Paul.We call him Bono.Like untold millions of people around the world, B has touched my life in a transformative way. On this his half-century birthday, I am deeply grateful for his presence in this world of ours.Rock on, B. And thank you. I’ll leave you with my favorite quote from Mr. Bono: “The idea... Read more
GODSTUFF MOMMYHOOD, IN SIX WORDS Imagine writing your memoir — a story that encapsulates all of who you are, what you’ve experienced, wrestled with and loved — in six words. That was the challenge posed by Larry Smith and Tim Barkow, founders of SMITH magazine, back in 2006. They took their cue from a literary legend about Ernest Hemingway who is said to have, as the answer to a bet, written a six-word short story: “For sale: Baby shoes. Never... Read more
Liturgical Fabulosity: I (Heart) Episcopalians Just a little mid-week happy to put a smile on your face (hopefully.)Sure did it for me. With thanks to Jen Grant. THE PRAYERBOOK IS A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND Sung to the tune of “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend” By Jule Styne (words) and Leo Robin (music) from Gentelmen Prefer Blondes (1953) starring Marilyn Monroe “Prayer Book” lyrics written and performedby Suzanne Guthrie Christians are glad to die for faith Delighting in debate and... Read more
A year ago today, a sick little boy from Malawi walked through the the arrivals gate at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago and became our son. This miraculous year has been so full of wonder, love, indescribable joy and staggering grace, we can scarcely fathom all that has happened. Profoundly grateful doesn’t even begin to capture how we feel. The privilege of becoming parents to this amazing person is the greatest blessing of our lives together. The front-row seat from... Read more
Calling all Gracespotters: Thursday night in Chicago (4/29/2010) Please join me TOMORROW NIGHT, THURSDAY APRIL 29, for a reception beginning at 5:15 p.m. and a discussion about GRACE at 6 p.m. at St. James Cathedral, Huron and Wabash in Chicago. I’ll be speaking about grace – my favorite subject – from 6 to 6:30 and then I’ll subject myself (willingly) to a thorough grilling by “The Seeker” herself – Chicago Tribune Religion Writer Manya Brachear, from 6:30 to 7 p.m.... Read more
Powerful words on writing fromSt. Freddie of Rupert Speak What We Feel, Not What We Ought to SayBy Frederick Buechner “It is Red Smith who is reported to have said that it is really very easy to be a writer — all you have to do is sit down at the typewriter and open a vein. Typewriters are few and far between these days, and vein-openers have never grown on trees. Good writers, serious writers — by which I mean... Read more
Hearing again for the first time … In the Zen tradition, there is a saying that goes something like this:When the student is ready, the teacher appears. A few years ago, the novelist Sandra Cisneros told me how a book waits for the reader to be ready to read it. And when we do, it’s exactly the right time. Providence. I’m beginning to believe that the same is true of songs. I heard this one for the first time when... Read more
Oh, HOOOOray!New Sarah McLachlan… Welcome back, Miz Sarah.We missed you. Read more
GODSTUFF SAVE ME A GOOD SEAT IN HEAVEN, UNCLE DODI. Seven years ago, at the start of the war in Iraq and its accompanying societal discord, a rabbi friend of mine told me something that I’ve thought about every day since: “We learn the most from the people we think are the least like us.” Earlier this month, when my Uncle Dodi crossed through the veil into the eternal hereafter at the age of 74, the rabbi’s words returned to... Read more
Meekness is strength. One of my dearest friends posted this poem by Mary Karr on our Facebook thread this morning. Boy, did I need to hear this today. Thanks, Uncle Veen. WHO THE MEEK ARE NOT Not the bristle-bearded Igors bentunder burlap sacks, not peasants knee-deepin the rice paddy muck,nor the serfs whose quarter-moon sicklesmake the wheat fall in wavesthey don’t get to eat. My friend the Franciscannun says we misreadthat word “meek” in the Bible verse that blesses them.To... Read more
The Dude Abides
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In