Author Archives: carolyncustisjames

In the aftermath of the 2008 U.S. presidential election, the word “change” is still on everyone’s lips. Change was the central theme of both campaigns and the exclamation point in President-Elect Obama’s victory speech: Change has come to America! What … Continue reading →

There’s a rickety old shack in the Oscar winning movie, Forest Gump, where Forest’s best friend Jenny grew up. Jenny’s shack is also the place that hides her darkest, most painful memories—early years of sexual abuse. After they reach adulthood, … Continue reading →

The selection of Alaska’s Governor Sarah Palin to the GOP presidential ticket has put a working mom in the headlines. This mother of five has not only galvanized her party’s ticket, she’s created a stir that isn’t exactly what you … Continue reading →

The 2008 Beijing Olympics are over. Athletes have returned home. Those with medals are making public appearances and raking in endorsements. We have moved on too and are focusing again on the presidential election and political conventions. At the same … Continue reading →

Scandal broke out in Washington D.C. in 2003 when The Washington Post exposed Valerie Plame Wilson as a covert operative on weapons of mass destruction. The political uproar that ensued over this damaging leak of classified information was clearly warranted. … Continue reading →

This past April my family gathered in Oregon to celebrate my parents’ 65th wedding anniversary. While we were together, my brothers and I produced a list of statistics from 65 years of marriage that sound a little like stanzas from … Continue reading →

By the time May arrives, if you’re anything like me, you’re ready for a break. This spring seems to have been busier than ever, but this is actually a good thing. Looking back, I am both amazed and energized by … Continue reading →

A friend of mine knows exactly how to create the perfect Christmas for her family. Visiting her home in December is like stepping into a Hallmark card or one of Budweiser’s “I’ll be home for Christmas” commercials—the ones with the … Continue reading →

Theology runs in my family. I think it’s in our DNA. Recently my two seminarian nephews attended an academic conference on the Dead Sea Scrolls. Simultaneously, over a thousand miles away on a California freeway, the same subject captured the … Continue reading →

The cover of Time Magazine’s September 3, 2007 issue features the familiar lined face and penetrating gaze of Mother Teresa, a.k.a. the “Saint of the Gutter” for her sacrificial and tireless efforts on behalf of Calcutta’s hungry, poor and dying. … Continue reading →