Pray for Martin Short. There’s a new documentary on the comedian on Netflix, so he’s doing interviews. This caught my eye in the New York Times:
Martin Short was raised in a Catholic household, saying prayers every night and going to Mass every Sunday. But he no longer believes in organized religion. He stopped mentioning God in prayers when his brother died. When citing a higher power on the death of loved ones, he quotes Mike Nichols: “I see no reason why you just can’t keep the conversation going.”
In the documentary, he describes a dream his late brother appeared in. Asked if recording home video of his family, which appears in the movie, is a way to keep them around, he said: “I know that my wife, Nancy, felt she knew my parents intimately through all the tapes.”
Short was quick to add that he didn’t judge anyone for finding solace any way they can. And that there is a randomness to happiness. . . .
“Always look on the bright side of life.”
It was absurd, but also not at all. Short considered the sentiment. “Yeah,” he said, lowering his voice to a murmur: “Head for the light.”
Earlier in the profile, Martin Short talked about terrible things that have happened in his life: the early deaths of his parents, his wife’s death from cancer, and the suicide of his daughter, Katherine.
Short said: “Katherine was saying: Dad, let me go,” and explained, “I don’t see any difference between mental illness as a disease and cancer as a disease. In some cases, both are terminal. And in some cases, both are survivable.”
Short clarified that this recent tragedy is different. “This is your child,” he said firmly, adding later in a soft voice: “I am trying to head toward the light.”
God bless the man. He is light in a heavy, blowing, crushing world. May God show Short His loving presence in the midst of this valley of tears — as Short makes us laugh, making God seen in the darkness life does bring.
And, now, of course, that I know he was raised Catholic, I have a particular responsibility to pray in a dedicated way to my brother in faith!