This artist book examines my earliest views on my relationship with my religion. It tosses fun at the fact that children don’t understand symbolic language as adults might and rather irreverently challenges catholic doctrine, catechism classes, foibles of the priests and nuns in my childhood church.

“I gave up organized religion when I was quite young. But as they say, ‘once a Catholic, you are always guilty.’ I know some people use going to church as community and some find solace in beliefs. I can’t go there with them. I can’t suspend reason for blind beliefs anymore than I can believe that going there will somehow make me better.

When attending a wedding of an old friend at a very conservative church, I was offended by the preacher who went on about how the man was the leader and the woman was to follow all of his leads. I was offended by the notion that if I wasn’t baptized in that very church, I was going to hell, and that they used rock and roll music with hateful words to trick the congregation.

Now I want to embrace the good in others, enjoying the wonder and curiosity. Life is short, smiles go such a long way to helping us all be better people.

I think it was good that when I was a small child I could not remember the words to that prayer because I was so afraid of talking to Jesus face to face. It freed me to think about other things, ask other questions and still be down deep inside a spiritual person.

It may not work for everyone, but it is what I learned from my mom. Don’t be selfish. Share what you know, what you have and who you are. Not bad ideas to guide you on this journey called life.”