An Evening With James Kavanaugh

Return of a Hound for Heaven, an Evening with James Kavanaugh

by Geri Lennon

Before the dawn of time, when some of us were virgins, and maybe even daily communicants, a wild and wooly priest/writer/poet emerged to shake any self-respecting religious pundit to the depth of his or her questioning soul. His first book, _A_Modern_Priest_Talks_About_His_Outdated_Church_, released in 1967, revolutionized the emerging trend to speak out, ask questions, and not accept religious status quo in the name of the Catholic Church, God, or any spiritual Hierarchy.

James Kavanaugh stirred the primordial God soup, to be sure. A tumultuous year later, this cleric with a doctorate in the Philosophy of Religious Values tore off his Roman collar in front of an auditorium of eager budding theologians at Notre Dame University. It was a shocking incident, yet also a passionate plea for personal freedom and conscience.

In the early 1970's, as an ex-priest, living in a New York walk-up, sustained by peanut butter and cheese whiz, Kavanaugh wrote his first poetry book, _There_are_Men_too_Gentle_to_Live_Among_Wolves_. To date, it has sold over two million copies. In 1978, my father and I were present to hear Kavanaugh read "Men Too Gentle..." at the Marc Taper Forum in Los Angeles. Accompanied by the exquisite music of Elmer Bernstein, it was pure magic.

When _Jonathan_Livingston_Seagull_ soared to the top of the charts, he was quietly followed by Harry Langendorf Pelican, a pensive winged creature who seeks his own inner rhythm to peace and serenity, far removed from flock consciousness. Kavanaugh's _Celebrate_the_Sun_ is an extraordinarily moving allegory of the choices we all make, together and alone, in how we experience life. Even "Dear Abby" touted it as one of the best books ever written.

Kavanaugh's works cover the entire gamut of human emotion. They are a veritable kaleidoscope of the personal experience. He has railed against corporate enchainment, and laughed at his own humanity. His poetry soars with freedom while walking a path of truth to one's own pocket of Divinity.

The years have flown. Scores of books (over a dozen on poetry alone) and performances have revealed a man in search of his own piece of sky. His passionate longing to be who he is - in truth, reckless abandon, humor, grief and joy - have made James Kavanaugh a true witness of purely Being Alive!

Kavanaugh's international renown has taken him around the world, including Israel, Germany, and China, where he received a standing ovation of over 4,000. He has also shared his musings with folks in rowdy bars and small quiet coveys in hospital wards and hospices.

Kavanaugh's most recent release is _God_Lives_..._From_Religious_Fear_to_Spiritual_Freedom_, published by Steven J. Nash.

Kavanaugh may be said to be a montage of Sir Thomas Moore, Walt Whitman, Mark Twain, and George Carlin. Larry King has called him "The People's Poet." Kavanaugh is a powerful and rebellious voice for the common folk, the echo of a soul in transformation. As Wayne Dyer succinctly put it, "I can think of no other living person who can put into words what we have all felt so deeply within ourselves."

In the words of a San Francisco bartender, "With a stool, a decent mike, and his poetry, in five minutes, Kavanaugh can reduce a Friday night bar crowd to attentive silence, quiet tears and the most outrageous laughter."

He has traveled, often careened, through the world and called many places home. Our own Nevada City was his personal "watering hole" for six years. For one evening, September 20, 1995 this "Hound for Heaven" will return.

James Kavanaugh will weave a tapestry as varied as the colors in his own palette. If you care to journey to the edge of your soul, experience the passion and the power of "An Evening with James Kavanaugh" Wednesday, September 20, 1995 at St. Joseph's Cultural Center, Grass Valley.

Background graphics are based on images from Sacred Geometry Design Sourcebook. • Web design by Elysian Publishing, All work copyright (c) 1997-2003 Nancy Bolton-Rawles and/or Bruce Rawles • All Rights Reserved • Contact Us

Updated:Fri, 28 Mar 2003.
http://www.intent.com/nfgc/james_kavanaugh.html