I loved this post. I am a huge Norm fan, his jokes are never far from my mind. Have watched the Weekend Update segments and Saturday Night Live sketches, have seen Dirty Work, have listened to Me Doing Standup, and so on. His humour, his kindness, his bravery and sarcasm, his own thoughts about his relationship to God...all amazing to take in. "imperfect efforts to combine faith, intellect, humor, pathos, repentance and friendship?", couldn't have said it better. I feel like I have a lot to learn about how to love other people when I hear him on Norm Macdonald Live. He was able to bring love to people who've done some really despicable things.
It was also interesting to hear what Conan O'Brien said, who if nothing else is outstanding at his job, and always has been. Sounds like he's had his "Ecclesiastes Moments", where false paths to joy are exposed with time. But he matters much more than he realizes and I'll pray he realizes that. Regarding what he's learned about joy and happiness, hopefully something akin to "Happiness only real when shared" that Chris McCandless writes in Into The Wild.
In my box of Drafts, there's a special one. Earlier this year, the Babylon Bee described a hypothetical where God sends Norm back to Earth for one day, and Conan O'Brien hosts him. My draft is a fictional narrative of what that interview might be like. Your post reminds me I need to finish that one.
Wow. Just, wow. I guess Norm Macdonald’s faith was a well-kept secret during his life — and / or I just assumed that all celebrities now are hostile to Christianity. I always loved his jokes, and now I truly admire his character. Thank you for such an insightful essay.
He was open about it. The issue was press coverage. A flawed, damaged man — who believed God wasn’t done with him yet. Follow the URLs to my full columns about him!
I loved this post. I am a huge Norm fan, his jokes are never far from my mind. Have watched the Weekend Update segments and Saturday Night Live sketches, have seen Dirty Work, have listened to Me Doing Standup, and so on. His humour, his kindness, his bravery and sarcasm, his own thoughts about his relationship to God...all amazing to take in. "imperfect efforts to combine faith, intellect, humor, pathos, repentance and friendship?", couldn't have said it better. I feel like I have a lot to learn about how to love other people when I hear him on Norm Macdonald Live. He was able to bring love to people who've done some really despicable things.
It was also interesting to hear what Conan O'Brien said, who if nothing else is outstanding at his job, and always has been. Sounds like he's had his "Ecclesiastes Moments", where false paths to joy are exposed with time. But he matters much more than he realizes and I'll pray he realizes that. Regarding what he's learned about joy and happiness, hopefully something akin to "Happiness only real when shared" that Chris McCandless writes in Into The Wild.
In my box of Drafts, there's a special one. Earlier this year, the Babylon Bee described a hypothetical where God sends Norm back to Earth for one day, and Conan O'Brien hosts him. My draft is a fictional narrative of what that interview might be like. Your post reminds me I need to finish that one.
I would love to see that draft when published. Where are you getting your raw Norm material for that effort?
Little bits and pieces from everything I've seen him do. When I'm done I'll link you to it.
Wow. Just, wow. I guess Norm Macdonald’s faith was a well-kept secret during his life — and / or I just assumed that all celebrities now are hostile to Christianity. I always loved his jokes, and now I truly admire his character. Thank you for such an insightful essay.
He was open about it. The issue was press coverage. A flawed, damaged man — who believed God wasn’t done with him yet. Follow the URLs to my full columns about him!