GODSTUFF: Our first Thanksgiving through a child’s eyes

Last updated on: November 27, 2009 at 6:20 pm By Cathleen Falsani

Vasco called it “Thanks-for-giving.” There is no Thankgiving holiday in Malawi, where my son is from. So yesterday was his first. And it was my best. Seeing the holiday through a child’s eyes for the first time makes it all so very clear. It’s not about the food, or the Macy’s parade, or even the pilgrims and the original Americans. Thanksgiving is just that — a time to be thankful for all that we have. Last week in school, Vasco... Read more

Last updated on: November 27, 2009 at 6:14 pm By Cathleen Falsani

GODSTUFF OUR FIRST THANKSGIVING THROUGH A CHILD’S EYES Vasco called it “Thanks-for-giving.” There is no Thankgiving holiday in Malawi, where my son is from. So yesterday (THURS) was his first. And it was my best. Seeing the holiday through a child’s eyes for the first time makes it all so very clear. It’s not about the food, or the Macy’s parade, or even the pilgrims and the original Americans. Thanksgiving is just that — a time to be thankful for... Read more

Last updated on: November 20, 2009 at 3:59 pm By Cathleen Falsani

GODSTUFFHAPPY DOWHATEVERYOUWANNUKAH?:I WON’T BE FA-LA-LA-LA-LA-ING INTO THE GAP THIS HOLIDAY SEASON There are only 35 shopping days left until Christmas. I’m keenly aware of this primarily because of those overcaffeinated Glee-show-choir-in-red-white-and-blue-alpine-sweaters-and-ear-flaps-making-high school-cheerleading-pyramids Gap ads that started running about a week ago. You know, the ones where they chant a little ditty titled, annoyingly, “Happy Dowhateveryouwannukah.” “Go Christmas! Go Hannukah! Go Kwanzaa! Go Solstice!” the exceptionally good-looking, multicultural, skinny-jeans-clad cheerbots shout. “You 86 the rules, you do what just feels right,”... Read more

Last updated on: November 17, 2009 at 5:17 pm By Cathleen Falsani

He’s the Maude to my Harold: Conversations with the Rabbi about Faith, Film and the Coen Bros Read more

Last updated on: November 13, 2009 at 3:53 pm By Cathleen Falsani

GODSTUFF WE HAVE A CHOICE TO MAKE: BE RIGHT OR BE COMPASSIONATE? Compassion is, by one definition, “a deep awareness and sympathy for another’s suffering.” Karen Armstrong, the former Roman Catholic nun and one of the foremost writers on religion of our generation, and the renowned African spiritual leader and peacemaker Archbishop Desmond Tutu, in launching what they have called the “Charter for Compassion,” are not saying anything new. The basis for their call to action — for a worldwide... Read more

Last updated on: November 6, 2009 at 6:04 am By Cathleen Falsani

GODSTUFF ‘WITHOUT FORGIVENESS, THERE IS NO FUTURE.’ Read more

Last updated on: October 30, 2009 at 4:33 pm By Cathleen Falsani

GODSTUFF PUTTING THE ‘WE’ BACK IN HALLOWEEN WITH WEE MAN Saturday will be my 10-year-old son Vasco’s first Halloween. He arrived in the U.S. from Africa just a few months ago, and as far as we can discern there is no Oct. 31 holiday in his native Malawi. But as a fourth grader here in southern California, Vasco is all about Halloween. He’s been drawing skeletons and jack-o’-lanterns in art class, and his classmates are abuzz talking about what costumes... Read more

Last updated on: October 23, 2009 at 10:23 pm By Cathleen Falsani

GODSTUFF 350: MORE THAN JUST A NUMBER This weekend, at synagogues around the globe, Jewish congregations will read from the Torah the story of Noah, his ark and the big flood that nearly brought about the end of the physical world. It’s a fitting scripture passage for this weekend when people of all faith traditions –and none — will join their voices to try to jolt world leaders into action to rein in climate change before another catastrophe ushers in... Read more

Last updated on: October 16, 2009 at 3:11 pm By Cathleen Falsani

GODSTUFF PRESSING THE PAUSE BUTTON: THE POWER OF A PERSONAL SABBATH Do you find yourself adding more to your to-do list, even though you already feel overwhelmed? Are your weekends just as jam-packed as your workdays? When you try to pray, do you find your mind swimming with yesterday’s worries? If, like me, you answered yes to all of the above, you might be in need of a pause. A spiritual timeout. Last week, I took an online quiz called... Read more

Last updated on: October 14, 2009 at 7:47 pm By Cathleen Falsani

Announcing GodGrrl.com!!! Visit the official website of Cathleen Falsani at GodGrrl.com! Welp, we’ve done it. Leapt into Web 2.0 world with our very own Web site. The Dude Abides will still be here at Blogspot but it will also be found at GodGrrl.com Please saunter on over to our new pad and tell us what you think. And don’t forget to listen to the tasty tunes I’ve got for you at the “on my iPod” page…. GG’s new HQ is... Read more