‘Dying Well’ Invites Us into a Family’s Love and Caregiving

YOU’LL REMEMBER—That’s the hope of Bill Wylie-Kellermann, whose new book is a memoir that begins with his wife Jeanie’s inspiring life in journalism and activism for social justice. Together, the couple attracted a huge network of friends and co-workers. Then, in the second half, this memoir looks at how that same compassionate community gathered with all of its multi-faceted talents to help Jeanie Wylie-Kellermann through years of health challenges and finally her death.

“As readers experience our story, many of them are going to remember things about their own families,” Bill says in our Cover Story this week.

Their daughter, the writer Lydia Wylie-Kellermann, points to the book’s over-arching theme: “Reading these pages, the love will jump right off the page.”

Since our founding in 2007, we have highlighted the heroic lives and daunting challenges faced by America’s millions of caregivers. This is a story to share with friends, to discuss in your small group, and to inspire your community’s efforts to help families struggling with major crises. As always, we ask you to share this news on social media. You’re also free to print out this story and distribute it that way, as well.

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HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS

REMEMBERING A MARTYR—To the world’s more than 5 million Baha’is, the Báb is revered much as Christians look to the martyrdom of the prophet John the Baptist as a foreshadowing of Jesus’s life and death. As one of nine holy days of the year, the Martyrdom of the Bab commemorates the anniversary of events that occurred in 1850. Secular historians disagree about those events; Baha’is regard them as miraculous. Stephanie Fenton has the story of the observance that begins at sundown on Monday.

BIRTHDAY OF HAILE SELASSIE—On July 23, Rastafari around the world—estimated to number 700,000 to 1 million—hold Nyabingi drumming sessions and celebrate the birthday anniversary of Haile Selassie I. Selassie remained a lifelong Christian, but never reproached the Rastafari for their beliefs in him as the returned messiah. Stephanie has the story of the holiday and of Selassie’s life, which is one of the most poignant of 20th-century leaders.

Want to see all the stories about Holidays & Festivals & Seasons? Just remember www.InterfaithHolidays.com 

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When a Story Is Better than a Sermon

A NOVEL APPROACH—Contributing columnist Henry Brinton tells the story behind his suspenseful murder mystery with an interfaith array of characters.

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Exploring Racism through the lens of Mixed Families

MILLIONS OF HOUSEHOLDS—And that means there are millions of stories from the ever-growing number of families that are racially mixed. In this week’s Front Edge Publishing column, David Crumm reports on three pioneering authors who write about the experience of racism through the lens of racially blended families.

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50 Years Ago …

REMEMBERING THE GUY ‘LEFT BEHIND’—All Americans are remembering the triumphant 1969 landing on the moon, including lots of coverage on TV and in newspapers and magazines. Author Rodney Curtis recalls the one man who came very close—but never touched that lunar surface.

RODNEY ALSO URGES READERS: “Go see Yesterday!” If you haven’t caught the new Beatles-themed fantasy, Rodney says it’s a great occasion to have some fun—and to sing along with all those classics.

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Faith & Film

ED McNULTY, for decades, has published reviews, magazine articles and books exploring connections between faith and film. Most of his work is freely published. Ed supports his work by selling the Visual Parables Journal, a monthly magazine packed with discussion guides to films. This resource is used coast-to-coast by individuals who love the movies and by educators, clergy and small-group leaders.

Among Ed’s free reviews and columns are:

• LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO—Based on a true story, Ed gives 5 out of 5 stars to this story of race, class and the collisions of urban culture.
• SPIDERMAN: FAR FROM HOME—Ed is a fan of Spiderman movies and gives this latest story in the Marvel Universe 4 stars.
• THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM—Ed writes, “After so many gloom and doom eco-documentaries, this one about John and Molly Chester’s 200-acre farm north of Los Angeles might seem like a rainbow after a storm.” (5 stars)
• WHEN THEY SEE US—Ed praises this hard-hitting Netflix miniseries. (5 stars)
• THE OPRAH OVERVIEW—Ed also recommends this special broadcast by Oprah about the legacy of this infamous case, which also is available now via Netflix.
• THE TOMORROW MAN—This off-beat romance is worth watching mainly because it co-stars two great actors: John Lithgow and Blythe Danner. (4 stars)
• 5B—This is a powerful documentary about the first healthcare workers to confront AIDS in San Francisco, Ed says. (5 stars)
• THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2—There are lots of laughs and lessons for the family in this sequel. (4 stars)
• ALL IS TRUE—Ed writes, “Directing from a literate script by Ben Elton, long-time Shakespeare enthusiast Kenneth Branagh both directs and stars in this story of the last three years of the Bard’s life.” (4 stars)
• TOY STORY 4—Of course Ed gives it 5 stars! Bring the whole family with you.

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